Senators listen to a person who is suspect in a case of mistaken identity. Shown in the photo are (from left) Senators Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, Robin Padilla, Joel Villanueva, Win Gatchalian and Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa (File photo from Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Risa Hontiveros wants a Senate committee of the whole to investigate former President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody war on drugs.
Hontiveros made the recommendation in light of Sen. Bato dela Rosa’s plan to lead the probe as head of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs.
Dela Rosa was also the chief implementer of Duterte’s Oplan Tokhang, being his former chief of police.
This role landed him on the roster of Duterte administration officials who were accused of crimes against humanity by drug war victims’ families before the International Criminal Court.
“In the first place, napaka-importante na malaman natin ang katotohanan ukol dyan sa madugong war on drugs, lalo na para sa mga pamilya ng mga biktima ng [extrajudicial killings],” said Hontiveros in on Thursday over DZXL’s Straight to the Point radio program.
(In the first place, it is really important for us to know the truth regarding the bloody war on drugs, especially for the families of the victims of extrajudicial killings.)
“So, ipapanukala ko po sa Senate leadership na magkaroon ng Senate committee of the whole kung saan buong Senado ang mag-iimbestiga sa war on drugs ng nakaraang administrasyon,” she noted.
(So I will propose in the Senate leadership to create a Senate committee of the whole to investigate the previous administration’s war on drugs.)
For her part, Hontiveros said a Senate committee of the whole investigation will help encourage more victims, who are survivors, to testify against the deadly drug campaign.
A Senate committee of the whole is composed of all senators. It is chaired by the president of the Senate.