3 senators back SC order on PNP to submit ‘Tokhang’ reports
Three senators on Wednesday backed the Supreme Court ’s order on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to submit its reports on the killing of drug suspects in the country.
“Tama lang. Ngayon na yung Supreme Court ang nag demand or nag-order for them to submit all the details of the more than 3,000 deaths on account of legitimate operations sa anti-drugs operations, tama lang yun,” Senator Panfilo Lacson, said in an interview at the Senate.
READ: SC presses PNP to submit ‘Tokhang’ reports
“Because we tried during the hearings but somehow hindi man sila naka-comply. But ito may contempt issue involved dito and it’s no less than the Supreme Court that’s ordering them so they will have to comply and they should comply,” he said.
Lacson said it is high time that the public knows the details of drug-related deaths under the government’s war on drugs called “Oplan Tokhang.”
At a Senate hearing last September, PNP Chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa disclosed that he has to get President Rodrigo Duterte’s clearance before releasing a report to the Senate about the thousands of people killed under the government’s bloody war on drugs.
READ: President has last say on release of police report to Senate—Bato
But Lacson reminded the PNP that “no one is above the law.”
“Having said that, it is a valid court order coming from no less than the SC,” he said in a separate text message.
“While the PNP may seek guidance from the President being their Commander in Chief, they will have to comply or they may be courting a contempt citation. Worse, a deadlock could result in a Constitutional crisis,” Lacson added.
Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III also welcomed the High Tribunal’s order, adding the PNP should also submit its reports to the Senate.
“Okay yun, dapat yun they will be able to submit those…even kung Senado manghingi niyan sa committee on public order, dapat nila i-produce kung pakikinabangan namin at kakailanganin,” Sotto said in a separate interview.
Neophyte Senator Joel Villanueva meanwhile added that the SC’s move to review the PNP’s Oplan Tokhang “reinforces the rule of law in the country.”
“I hope the numerous drug suspects killed under Oplan Tokhang will find justice as the SC conducts its review of this operation. I also hope this development will trigger the PNP to evaluate and review its procedure in dealing with the war on drugs,” Villanueva said in a statement. /muf
