Why can’t the House prioritize probe into drug killings? – opposition solons
An opposition lawmaker from the independent minority bloc in the House of Representatives on Tuesday lamented that the leadership has not prioritized calls from members to investigate the alleged extrajudicial killings in the administration’s war on drugs.
In a press conference by the “Magnificent Seven,” Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat said he has asked the leadership about his earlier resolution filed last year for an investigation on the spate of summary killings since the administration began.
READ: Look into extrajudicial killings under Duterte, Congress pressed
He said not only was his resolution remained unreferred to the appropriate committee, he was also told that it was not the priority of the House leadership to look into the rising count of drug killings.
“In my years as congressman never has a resolution asking an inquiry been tabled by the rules committee. Usually nare-refer yan. Ang tungkulin mo lang is to ask the rules. Itong nakaraang taon, yung mga resolution namin tungkol sa extrajudicial killings has never been referred to the appropriate committee,” Baguilat said.
“Ang lagi na lang pinaparating sa amin, it’s not a priority,” Baguilat said.
READ: Lawmaker calls out House for ‘inaction’ on drug war killings
Baguilat said that the lower House engaged into inquiries on the Bilibid drug trade that “demonized” Senator Leila De Lima, as well as looked into the shipment of P6.4 billion shabu through the Bureau of Customs’ green lane, and yet does not want to look into the rising body count.
“Hindi balanse ang diskurso dito sa Kongreso eh,” Baguilat said.
For his part, Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano lamented that an inquiry into the rising death toll is not a priority of the lower House supposedly so as not to derail the progress of the war on drugs of the administration that continues to enjoy high ratings.
“We continue to call the attention of the House of Representatives, but at the end of the day, nasa kanila yung pag-kalendaryo, kung bibigyan ito ng liwanag,” Alejano said.
READ: Opposition solon slams House inaction over drug death issues
Authors of resolutions calling for a House inquiry into the drug killings have come out to ask for attention to their calls for inquiry following the killing of 17-year-old Kian Delos Santos. He was tagged as a drug runner and was shot dead by the Caloocan police in a drug operation.
A CCTV video supposedly showing Kian being dragged by plain clothes men belied the police claims that the Grade 12 student resisted arrest and fired at the operatives. Kian has become the face of police abuses in the administration’s intensified war on drugs that has claimed thousands of lives, drawing condemnation from international and rights groups.
READ: Kian autopsy points to ‘intentional killing’
