Trillanes’ call for new EJK probe ‘duplicitous’—Lacson

Senators Antonio Trillanes IV (left) and Panfilo Lacson. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday scoffed at the call of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV for a fresh investigation into the alleged involvement of police officers in extrajudicial killings, noting that results of an earlier inquiry were already forthcoming.

“If the resolution contains the same issues raised before the (Senate committee on justice and human rights) on extrajudicial killings as heard under Sen. [Leila] De Lima and Sen. [Richard] Gordon, is there anything more to investigate?” Lacson told the Inquirer when sought for comment.

“[It is] duplicitous, if not insulting to Sen. Gordon and the committee on justice members, which include myself and many other colleagues,” he said.

Trillanes  filed a resolution on Oct. 17 asking the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, a body that Lacson chairs, to hold a legislative inquiry into the alleged role of police officers in vigilante killings amid President Duterte’s brutal war on drugs.

He cited the slay of Zenaida Luz, Citizens Crime Watch regional chairperson in Oriental Mindoro, where two junior police officials were tagged. He also cited an Oct. 6, 2016 story of British daily The Guardian, which quoted a senior police officer who claimed to be part of a secret hit squad.

This even while the Gordon-chaired Senate committee on justice and human rights is expected to release results of the six-session probe into drug-related deaths in early November, when the Senate session resumes.

“There could be an issue on the referral as the same subject matter has been previously referred to the justice committee, which is ready to report its findings or recommendations on the floor,” Lacson said.

Trillanes had protested Gordon’s handling of the inquiry when the latter took over the justice committe’s chairmanship after De Lima’s ouster over her alleged bias against the administration.

The senator, a staunch critic of President Duterte’s campaign against drugs, accused Gordon of hiding the truth, saying he “should be remembered as one of those who tried to cover it (the truth) up.” JE/rga