CONGRESS supported former president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on illegal drugs and allocated billions of pesos in funding for his campaign to rid the country of the drug menace, but the support did not extend to the killing of drug suspects, the chair of the House Committee on Human Rights said yesterday.
Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr., one of the chairmen of the quad committee which is investigating the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) under Duterte, said Congress’ support for the drug war was “not intended to be used for the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) of more than 20,000 suspected, but often innocent, drug users and street pushers.”
He said that while Congress appropriated allocations in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA) to finance the anti-drug campaign, “no funds were specifically allocated for the murder of innocent, poor Filipinos.”
“The objective of this campaign was to end the threat posed by illegal drugs, not to cut short the lives of innocent men, women, and children,” he said in a statement.
“The bloody drug war implemented during the Duterte administration, as explained by one of our colleagues, did not solve the drug problem. In fact, it worsened it, creating more harm than good by orphaning thousands of children who lost their parents, often the family breadwinners, on mere suspicion of involvement in drugs,” he also said.
Abante was reacting to Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, a former speaker under the Duterte administration, who said the drug war “was not a one-man crusade” because it was supported “by the full weight of the government, including a Congress that passed multiple General Appropriations Acts financing the anti-drug campaign.”
“Hindi mangyayari ang war on drugs kung hindi ito suportado ng taong bayan at pinayagan ng Kongreso noong 17th at 18th Congress. Karamihan ng mga miyembro ng Kamara noon, nandito pa rin sa 19th Congress. Kung guilty si dating Pangulong Duterte, iisa lang ang ibig sabihin niyan: guilty rin ang Kongreso (The war on drugs wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t supported by the people and allowed by Congress in the 17th and 18th Congresses. Most of the House members then are still here in the 19th Congress. If former president Duterte is guilty, it only means one thing: Congress is also guilty),” Alvarez said.
Alvarez said the quad committee inquiry “reeks of political convenience and selective memory.” “These very same lawmakers, who for years cheered Duterte’s hardline stance on drugs, are now attempting to shift all responsibility to Duterte,” he said.
Abante said the victimized families who were left fatherless by “Oplan Tokhang” and “Oplan Double Barrel” are “now even poorer five to 10 years later.”
“With no support from their slain breadwinners, these children and relatives struggle to get a proper education, and as a result end up as street children who often get involved in petty crimes due to their poverty. Instead of solving the problem, the previous administration exacerbated it,” he said.
Abante said that while many did not speak out against the past administration’s bloody drug war, it “may have been due to the action taken by the Duterte administration against those who publicly opposed its campaign against illegal drugs.”
“Media outlets were silenced, and those who opposed the drug war – such as lawyers, judges, and politicians – were implicated in illegal drugs. Their names were unjustifiably included in publicized drug lists, and they were later murdered because of it – with no thorough police investigation following their deaths,” he also said.
“Worse, some law enforcers, particularly from the PNP, competed over who to kill, regardless of whether the targets were legitimate or not, all for the lure of substantial monetary rewards. In simple terms, the Duterte government used taxpayers’ money, through intelligence funds, to kill thousands of Filipino drug suspects deprived of due process – including innocents,” he added.
Abante said it was on record and well-documented by the media that Duterte emboldened the police to commit abuses and murders, by saying “kill them, and I’ll take care of you.”
He however also pointed out that Oplan Tokhang and Oplan Double Barrel “failed to touch or prosecute suspected big-time drug lords, such as Michael Yang, as well as two brothers exposed by police anti-drug officer Col. Eduardo Acierto.”
LEGISLATION
Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, overall chairman of the quad committee, said the panel is eyeing filing a bill seeking to penalize lawyers of witnesses who eventually recant their testimonies, saying legal counsels have the duty to vet their clients’ statements.
“They should prove that. When a sworn statement is given, lawyers verify that to prove its truthfulness,” he said, adding that the bill may amend the law on perjury.
The joint panel cancelled its scheduled 10th hearing yesterday as typhoon Kristine continued to batter the country, especially the Bicol region.
Barbers said it is not the right time to resume the hearing and discuss the issues because there is a need for a whole-of-nation response to the calamity.
“Our primary focus right now is to assist our constituents who have been severely impacted by typhoon Kristine. Many of our fellow Filipinos are dealing with devastating loss and damage to their homes, livelihoods, and communities. As representatives of the people, we have a duty to be on the ground and lend every possible support,” Barbers said.
Barbers added: “This is not the time for division. We need a united response to ensure that those who are hardest hit by this calamity receive immediate relief. The national government, local government units, the private sector, and civic organizations must all come together in a coordinated effort to help our kababayans rebuild.”
The veteran lawmaker said the committee will announce a new schedule for the hearing once the situation stabilizes and the relief operations are well underway.
Speaker Martin Romualdez backed the panel’s decision to cancel the hearing, saying government officials, including members of the House of Representatives, have to be on the ground offering direct support to their constituents during critical times.
“We welcome the decision of the quad comm as announced by chairman Ace Barbers,” he said. “It will allow our representatives to be where they are most needed – among their people, providing immediate aid and relief. In moments like this, it is imperative that we set aside our legislative duties to prioritize the welfare of our fellow Filipinos.”
