Abante: ex-President Duterte, dela Rosa missed chance to tackle EJKs

This photo was taken at Malacañan Palace on Jan. 19, 2017, with then-President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and the PNP chief Gen. Ronald dela Rosa chatting at the sidelines of the oath-taking ceremony for newly-appointed chairs of the different Regional Peace and Order Councils (RPOCs). | File photo from Malacañan

MANILA, Philippines — It is regrettable that former President Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa missed the opportunity to address alleged extrajudicial killings (EJKs) in their drug war, Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. said on Monday.

Abante was referring to Duterte and dela Rosa’s continued absence from the probe into EJKs of the House Committee on Human Rights.

The panel, which is holding its fifth hearing on the matter this Monday, is headed by Abante.

“We have sought to invite all those who can shed light on the different facets of this issue — which is why it is regrettable that despite the assurances this committee has given, some key personalities have not taken the opportunity to air their side on the issue that had been raised,” Abante said in his opening remarks.

“This committee does not want to be one-sided, and to avoid this, we have endeavored to hear all sides as I have frequently reiterated, the integrity of this inquiry depends on obtaining all the facts and hearing all the perspectives. To this end, we have striven to provide a fair and balanced platform for all voices to be heard, as we recognize that justice can only be obtained when all relevant information and necessary viewpoints are considered and processed,” he added.

Abante also urged dela Rosa — who said he would not attend the hearing — to mention his grievances before the House committee.

According to Abante, dela Rosa’s insistence on not attending the hearings to clarify the Philippine National Police (PNP) side — as he was the first police chief appointed by Duterte — contradicts admissions that rights violations indeed happened under the past administration’s drug war.

“I would like to answer the question of authority raised by Sen. Bato dela Rosa, that this committee does not have any right to investigate.  Well let me tell the good senator, you’re a senator — we have the right according to our rules.  You have been interviewed in the media. How I wish that you can be here and make [it] clear to us,” Abante said.

“We had Colonel [Jovie] Espenido who admitted plainly that there were human rights violations during his time. And on that basis, Senator dela Rosa, being interviewed, also admitted — he admitted in public — that there were human rights violations done during his time as director general of the [PNP], and he even calls that collateral damage.  Now, you know the killing of so many people to me is not just collateral damage, it could have been prevented,” he added.

As PNP chief, dela Rosa implemented Oplan Tokhang, a portmanteau of Visayan words “toktok” or to knock and “hangyo” or to plead. While the program was initially hailed for facilitating the surrender of people involved in the illegal drug trade, Oplan Tokhang quickly gained notoriety as it came to be linked to killings either through numerous drug operations or vigilante-style executions.

Several rights groups believe rights violations existed in the drug war, prompting them to file complaints against Duterte and dela Rosa before the International Criminal Court, for the crime against humanity of mass murder.

Duterte and his allies have maintained that they were not behind the EJKs in the drug war, with the former president noting on one occasion that warring drug gangs were behind the killings.

No show-cause order

Despite Duterte and dela Rosa’s absence, Abante said that the committee would not issue a show-cause order to show respect to a former president and a sitting member of Congress.

Instead, Abante said they would again write a letter to Duterte and dela Rosa.

Abante made the declaration after ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro asked why Duterte and dela Rosa were not being included among the resource persons. She also asked them to explain their absence at the hearing.

“Okay, I made a statement that if former President Duterte will not be able to come — and he has already manifested that he is not coming — we will still write him a letter to come,” Abante said.

“But I would not want to go into a show-cause order for the president, being the former president. But we are going to continue inviting him to come, including Sen. Bato dela Rosa,” he added.

There has been a clamor for members of the Duterte family to give a categorical answer as to their alleged involvement in several drug-related issues.

Last July 15, Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua said that Duterte should explain issues since his former economic adviser, Chinese national Michael Yang, has been dragged into discussions by the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs.

The lawmaker also noted that former police officer Eduardo Acierto had insisted that the older Duterte was a close ally with those involved in the illegal drug trade — despite being informed of their links.