House panel ready to probe into anti-drug war, extra-judicial killings

An alleged drug pusher lies dead in one of the thousands of extrajudicial killings that the United States and 38 other countries want stopped. — File photo from AFP

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives’ committee on human rights is prepared to investigate the alleged extrajudicial killings (EJKs) committed in the past administration’s war against illegal drugs.

During a press briefing on Thursday, panel head and Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante said the committee met on Wednesday to discuss how it would move forward when it starts the hearing on May 22.

According to Abante, they will conduct the inquiry based on the principle that suspects who died during the drug war were not able to defend themselves in court.

“Why do we do this? Maybe the question of some people is why are we conducting an inquiry into the deaths of alleged drug addicts or drug dealers? ” he said.

“First, we must begin with a principle that each life is valuable, that each life lost is a profound tragedy,” he pointed out.

“Second, we must point out that those who lost their lives like every Filipino are protected by the rights granted by the Constitution, one of which is due process,” he noted.

“They are alleged drug users and dealers, but they were not convicted because these alleged EJK victims were silenced and they were denied their rights,” Abante emphasized.

“Now, it’s our responsibility to the victims of alleged extrajudicial killings and their families to seek the truth,” he added.

READ: 6,252 drug suspects killed as of May 31 – PDEA

Abante said past officials of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration — like former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde and former Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra — may be invited.

Albayalde was Duterte’s second PNP chief.

Prior to his appointment, he also served as head of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

Abante also mentioned that they would not invite Duterte and his first PNP chief, Senator Ronald dela Rosa — who actually coined the term Oplan Tokhang — as they may not be able to appear in the probe in the first place.

READ: Duterte, 11 others accused of crimes against humanity before ICC 

Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, meanwhile, said that they want to exercise parliamentary courtesy to dela Rosa, given that he is a member of Congress too.

“We would like to maintain that courtesy with the sitting senator and also with the former president,” he said.

While Duterte was lauded by allies for addressing the drug problem in the country, several critics called him out as the campaign turned out to be bloody.

Duterte’s drug war, which was a continuation of his policy when he was also Davao City mayor, allegedly led to over 6,250 deaths in police operations from June 2016 to May 2022.

However, activist groups claimed that the true death toll during Duterte’s term from June 2016 to June 2022 may be anywhere between 12,000 to 30,000.

Several individuals, including relatives of drug war victims, have also filed cases against Duterte before the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crime against humanity.