Fear, leadership issues prevented serious EJK probe — House lawmakers

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

MANILA, Philippines — The probe into possible rights violations during the Duterte administration’s drug war came late due to “fear,” leadership issues, and problems with the prosecutorial services, House lawmakers admitted on Tuesday.

In a press briefing, Zambales 1st District Rep. Jefferson Khonghun, Nueva Ecija 1st District Rep. Mikaela Suansing, Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre, and Lanao del Norte 1st District Rep. Mohamad Dimaporo were asked to comment on criticisms that the House probe into drug-related extrajudicial killings (EJKs) came late as it was done several years after.

Khonghun admitted that many found it hard to speak against the drug war out of fear that they would be tagged as involved in the illegal drug trade.

“We know that it is so hard to speak about the policies of the past administration. If you talk against the war on drugs, they will label you a protector, so we understand members of the previous Congress, why they failed to talk and we cannot question them for this because we are on our first term,” he explained.

READ: Lawyers in ICC ‘drug war’ raps cite latest Duterte threat vs court

Suansing said the prosecution of EJK cases did not move much during the Duterte administration, which is practically the reason why the relatives of drug war victims went to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for assistance.

“Maybe we can see that not only in the House, but during the past administration, even our prosecutorial services, the judiciary, there are almost no movements regarding cases filed,” she said.

“Probably, the most in-depth investigation we had was that of the ICC regarding the crimes against humanity charges filed against former President [Rodrigo] Duterte and Senator [Ronald] “Bato” Dela Rosa.  So maybe that is because of what we saw as an environment at that time, which was not conducive to conducting all of these hearings and investigations,” she added.

Dela Rosa was the chief of the Philippine National Police during the early days of the drug war.

While there were cases filed against police officers who implemented the drug war, cops were convicted in at least three cases only, including that of Kian Delos Santos, who was killed in Caloocan despite not being the target of the anti-drug operation.

READ: 3 policemen guilty of killing Kian delos Santos — court 

The court said Delos Santos was shot point-blank even if camera footage showed him pleading for his life.

Leadership factor

Acidre said the current leadership provided an atmosphere where anybody with grievances could speak, including critics of the past and present administrations.

“We were not lawmakers during the past administration, so we do not know why they decided against doing an investigation, but this thing is clear: We now have a leadership, both in the House and in the country. Our President (Ferdinand Marcos Jr.) leads by example; we saw how he respects the law and how he acts as a statesman,” Acidre said.

“How can you oppose a policy that was repeatedly imposed by the highest leader of the land during the last administration? How do you go against a stated policy? Maybe this is the fear that prevented past Congresses from doing a review, checking on alleged EJKs, and we’re happy and we’re somewhat confident that with this leadership of President BBM (Marcos) and Speaker Martin [Romualdez], this is the right time to do a probe,” he added.

Dimaporo, meanwhile, explained that in the past Congress, lawmakers filed bills and resolutions calling for investigations, but it was the leadership who decided on these matters.

“You cannot say nobody worked against…bringing attention to the war on drugs and its effects especially on the poor because Makabayan bloc was fighting for it. But they were never given a chance to really conduct a full-blown public hearing on it. That did not happen under the time of Speaker Martin Romualdez, all of us are being given the freedom to do our jobs even the minority, the Makabayan bloc,” he added.

On Monday, Dela Rosa said he does not have a problem with the activities of the House quad-committee investigating the possible correlation between the illegal activities in Philippine offshore gaming operators hubs, the illegal drug trade, and possible abuses during the Duterte administration’s drug war.

But he admitted to “not wanting” the actions of the committee on human rights because it was probing the drug war even though several investigations were conducted already.

Dela Rosa also claimed that the hearings seemed to be a mere fishing expedition.

READ: Dela Rosa singles out rights panel as one he despises in quad committee