Remulla: No one exempt from EJK probe, not even ex-President Duterte

Former President Rodrigo Duterte — MALACAÑANG FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — No one will be spared from the government’s investigation into the unresolved cases of extra-judicial killings (EJKs), not even former President Rodrigo Duterte, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Thursday.

Remulla met with the heads of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), retired Judge Jaime Santiago and chief of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III to discuss the reopening of cold cases of EJKs.

“I was telling them to just share information with each other. But of course, we may have to call on the family to give their comments on this investigation, in what direction they want us to pursue,” Remulla told reporters.

“We are not letting go of the cold cases. If there are people willing to testify and provide evidence, we will revive these cases because you cannot have peace unless you found justice,” he added in Filipino.

When asked if the investigation reaches Duterte, Remulla said: “Basta wala tayong sinasanto. Ang mahalaga, kung merong nagkasala sa lipunan ay pagbayaran. Its crime and punishment.

(We hold no one sacred. If crimes were committed, they must be punished.)

Talks of reviving old cases of EJKs came out after witnesses, during the House of Representatives quad committee hearings, identified ranking key officials from the Duterte administration to be involved in EJKs.

Like Remulla, Torre said if the evidence led them to Duterte, he would be included in the cases that will be filed.

“We will see what comes out, where the investigation into these cold cases will lead us, and if we find any link to anyone, including the former president, then, so be it. We will include them to the charges if the evidence warrants,” Torre told reporters in Filipino.

On possible cases that will be filed, Torre said: “So, [the] enablers, there will be different—there are different kinds of principal accused. Some have direct participation, by inducement, or indispensable cooperation. So, we will just look at what the evidence will say, we will be choosing from there.”

Duterte has been invited by the House quad committee but he declined the invite.