SEN. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has said he will not attend the hearing of the House Committee on Human Rights on the alleged rights violations committed in pursuit of the illegal drugs campaign of the Duterte administration.
Dela Rosa said this was the advice given to him by Senate President Francis Escudero.
Dela Rosa was the PNP chief when former president Rodrigo Duterte launched an aggressive campaign against illegal drugs which led to the killing of more than 6,000 individuals.
He said that upon learning through media channels that the House panel is planning to invite him and former president Rodrigo Duterte to its hearing, he sought guidance from Escudero if he should attend or not.
“I sought the advice of the Senate President on what to do. Sa akin, wala akong problema (I have no problem with that). I can face them anytime. But still, I have to follow the guidance of the Senate President being a member of the institution, the Senate of the Philippines. Kailangan sundan ko ‘yung guidance niya (I need to obey his guidance),” Dela Rosa said in a radio interview.
Escudero said inter-chamber courtesy dictates that while the House may issue invitations to senators, “it cannot and should not issue compulsory process against a member of a co-equal chamber.”
Escudero said the same courtesy applies to members of the lower chamber.
“It is an invite and the invitee may voluntarily go or decide not to. Sen. Bato has expressed to me his position. At this time, he is not inclined to attend. I told him that I support whatever decision he will arrive at regarding this matter and will always be a vanguard and guard the rights, privileges and prerogatives of the Senate and members of the Senate,” he said.
Dela Rosa said he is only following the long-time tradition in the Senate to follow their leader.
“We have to seek guidance because that is an enshrined practice, tradition among chambers of legislature to observe inter-parliamentary courtesy,” he said, stressing that members of the Senate must inform and seek guidance from the leadership each time they make an official act.
“Para hindi tayo magkasisihan sa bandang dulo na gawa-gawa ka ng sariling desisyon diyan in your official capacity na hindi alam ng liderato ng Senado (So there won’t be a blame game for coming up with a decision in your official capacity without informing first the Senate leadership),” he added.
In the same interview, Dela Rosa said those who are arguing that he and Duterte should be held accountable for the killings of thousands of drug users and pushers should file the appropriate charges against them in court.
He did not identify who he was referring to, but former senator Leila de Lima has said that Duterte and his “disciples” should be held liable for the bloody war on drugs of the past administration.
He said the accusations must be based on evidence, not on sentiments.
“If she has the goods, then by all means you have to file (a case) against us… We are ready to face any court here in the Philippines,” Dela Rosa said.
ICC PROBE
Rep. Arlene Brosas (PL, Gabriela), a member of the Makabayan bloc, again urged President Marcos Jr. to allow the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate Duterte’s bloody war on drugs.
“(House) committee hearings can only do so much. The government must decisively act to provide justice for the thousands of victims of extrajudicial killings under the Duterte regime’s brutal drug war,” Brosas said.
Former Duterte presidential spokesman Harry Roque earlier said Vice President Sara Duterte resigned as education secretary and as co-vice chair of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), to become the face of the new opposition.
Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman has said, however, that the Liberal Party remains the genuine opposition because the younger Duterte merely broke away from the UniTeam, the ticket under which she and the President ran in the 2022 national elections.
The House Committee on Human Rights the other day said the former president and Dela Rosa will be invited to the attend its hearing on the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) linked to the Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs.
Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante, panel chair, however said it will be up to Duterte and Dela Rosa if they will attend the hearing because the panel cannot force their attendance out of courtesy to a former president and a fellow legislator who used to head the previous administration’s anti-drug campaign as PNP chief.
The victims’ relatives, who continued to narrate to the panel how their loved ones were killed under “Oplan: Tokhang,” have been been hoping that the ICC would soon find Duterte responsible for the drug war deaths.
In November last year, the House Joint Committee on Justice and on Human Rights adopted a resolution calling for the government to cooperate with the ICC investigation on Duterte’s war on drugs.
The joint panel adopted House Resolution No. 1477, which Abante filed with Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez (PL, 1-Rider), in consolidation with House Resolution Nos. 1393 filed by the militant Makabayan bloc and HR No. 1482 filed by Lagman.
Brosas said allowing the ICC to conduct its investigation “is crucial in holding accountable those responsible for the grave human rights abuses committed during Duterte’s term.”
“Many women have been widowed, and children orphaned due to these senseless killings. The government has an obligation to ensure that their cries for justice are heard and addressed,” she said.
“We need a thorough, impartial investigation by the ICC to uncover the full extent of the human rights violations committed and to hold the perpetrators accountable. Moreover, if the ICC decides to issue a warrant of arrest, the government must turn over Duterte and others who were involved,” Brosas added.
PHOTOS
During the continuation of the human rights’ hearing yesterday, Abante warned police officers against taking photos of the families of drug war victims, reminding them that the panel has the power to cite them in contempt especially in light of fears that members of the PNP might go after the relatives of victims who have come out to tell their stories.
In one of the panel’s hearings, human rights lawyer Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno said no class suit was filed against the former president in relation to the thousands killed in his bloody war on drugs because the families of victims remain too afraid to testify.
Diokno is part of the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG), which challenged the legality of the drug war before the Supreme Court.
“Meron tayo dyan mga biktima sa labas (We have drug war victims outside) and I was told that there are some police people who are taking pictures (of) them,” Abante said in the presence of PNP and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) officials. “If they (police) do not want to be held in contempt… I do not want anyone taking pictures of anybody, if you are not members of the media. I am prohibiting any police officers to take pictures of these victims. Respect this committee.”
Abante directed the committee to provide a holding room for the victims and their families, assuring them that the committee would take steps to ensure their safety and security.
“I fully acknowledge the fears and the reluctance that many may feel about coming forward to testify. These fears are real; they have basis,” he said. “The committee on human rights panel is steadfast in its commitment to the protection of our witnesses. The House of Representatives is here to support you, to safeguard your rights, and to ensure your safety.” — With Wendell Vigilia
