Duterte, dela Rosa invited to House hearing on drug war deaths

Former President Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. —MALACAÑANG FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Former President Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Ronald dela Rosa have been invited to attend the hearing of the House Committee on Human Rights.

Lawmakers are asking them to answer issues involving alleged extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during the Duterte administration’s drug war.

At the committee hearing on Tuesday, Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas moved to invite the two personalities central to the past administration’s war against illegal drugs.

The move comes, after resource persons supporting alleged human rights victims, like National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) secretary general Kristina Conti, said they believe Duterte is responsible for the killings and should be held accountable.

It was Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr.,  the committee chair, who asked Conti and the group Rise Up for Life and for Rights regarding Duterte’s possible accountability.

Abante also asked drug war victims’ kin if they were ready to face Duterte, to which the resource persons said they were.

Eventually, Abante approved the motion after it was seconded.

The next hearing will be held on Wednesday, June 26.

The panel previously informed Duterte and dela Rosa about the next hearing on the alleged EJKs, but Abante said it is up to them to attend.

READ: Duterte, Dela Rosa to be informed about next House hearing on EJKs in drug war 

Now, with the testimonies from drug war victims’ relatives, Abante said he feels the two personalities’ presence are needed.

Duterte’s presidency saw the death of thousands of dead drug war suspects, which many rights groups claimed were EJKs.

Dela Rosa was Duterte’s first Philippine National Police (PNP) chief.

“Much as I would want to give courtesy to the former president and the Senator Bato dela Rosa, because of the gravity of the testimony of these victims, they should face these people and hear their complaints,” Abante said.

“What I am saying is, perhaps, the former president would look into his own heart and realize what he has done in the past six years,” he noted.

“So, therefore we’re going to invite him now because of this,” he added.