Does EJK exist? Yes; Gov’t sponsored? It’s hard to prove – Recto

EJK KIN Families of those killed in the government’s bloody war on drugs call for an end to the
killings during the “Walk for Life” rally.

Even Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto believes that there are extra-judicial killings (EJKs) in the country.

That is why, Recto said, it was no longer surprising that the European Parliament and the United States have been calling the attention of the Philippine government.

“There is no doubt that EJKs exist. Thousands have died,” he said in a text message on Sunday night.

The senator was reacting to European Union’s recent resolution, calling on the Philippines to stop the killings, and on the US Department’s annual global human rights report where it expressed its concern on the alleged killings of drug suspects.

READ: US State department notes rise in PH drug killings 

READ: EU urges PH: Stop killings 

Recto though acknowledged that it would be hard to prove that the killings were sanctioned by the government.

“But does EJK exist? Yes,” he said in a separate text message on Monday.

Sen. Ralph Recto (File photo by GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Despite this also, the senator recognized that the public supports the government’s war on drugs as well as President Rodrigo Duterte’s style of leadership.

Duterte to prove EU wrong

Recto said he nevertheless expects the President Duterte administration to “engage” and prove the EU and the US wrong by providing them data of the government’s war on drugs.

Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, meanwhile, lambasted the EU and the US for only listening to anti-administration groups, “especially in media.”

“Hindi nila alam ang mga tunay ng nangyayari dito. Nakikinig lang sila sa mga anti-admin groups, especially in media. Bakit hindi sila ganyan sa mga rape sa India? Anti-drug pushers lang ba importante sa kanila na issue?” Sotto, an administration ally, asked in a separate text message to reporters.

The Majority leader advised the two countries to read the real data and also hear the government’s side on the issue.

“Kung ayaw nila, eh di hwag! Palibhasa masyadong palasak ang droga sa kanila,” Sotto said.

In December 2016, 11 senators, including Sotto, signed a joint committee report, which found no proof that the killings in the country were state-sponsored./ac

READ: Senators sign report belying existence of state killings