President Rodrigo Duterte’s chief legal counsel on Monday criticized newly elected Senator Leila de Lima for calling a probe on the killings of drug suspects.
“Any attempt therefore to conduct a Senate investigation, by any member, especially of that particular senator who wants to conduct an investigation, may be viewed as an attempt to discredit the legitimacy of police operations against the drug menace,” Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo told Malacañang reporters in an ambush interview.
His statement came just hours after Solicitor General Jose Calida held a press briefing at the Philippine National Police to assure law enforcers that they will be protected against accusations of extrajudicial killings.
READ: SolGen Calida vows to protect cops amid spate of drug suspect deaths
Panelo explained, “While it is the duty of a member of congress to initiate an investigation in aid of legislation, with respect to the Senate investigation involving killings of drug pushers, it appears as I can see it, there is no basis other than speculation and conjecture”
“Why? Because first as a manner of protocol or procedure, the police agency conducts immediately an investigation when a civilian is killed in the process of arrest,” he said.
READ: Leila seeks immediate probe
Panelo also pointed out that the Commission on Human Rights has yet to order its own investigation.
De Lima earlier called on Duterte to remind the police to do their job without breaking the law.
She said she wanted to investigate the rising number of drug suspects killed by policemen who claim that the suspected criminals resisted arrest or tried to snatch their guns.
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