JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has ordered the creation of a task force to investigate extrajudicial killings linked to the bloody war on drugs of the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Created under Memorandum Order No.778 dated November 4, Remulla directed the task force to “investigate, assist in the conduct of case build-up, and if warranted, file the appropriate criminal charges in court against the perpetrators and all those involved in extrajudicial killings during the previous administration’s anti-illegal drugs campaign.”
The task force will be composed of state prosecutors and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) operatives.
It will be chaired by a senior assistant state prosecutor and co-chaired by a regional prosecutor, with nine members from the National Prosecution Service (NPS).
A team composed of the “appropriate number” of officers, agents, and personnel from the NBI “as may be required” will be constituted to “assist the task force in its work.”
Remulla said the task force shall coordinate with the PNP, the Witness Protection Program (WPP), the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), the Senate blue ribbon committee and the quad committee of the House of Representatives.
A Senate blue ribbon sub-committee and the House quad committee are conducting parallel investigations on the extrajudicial killings and other abuses related to Duterte’s drug war.
Remulla said the inter-agency coordination will ensure efficient gathering and sharing of information, as well as the facilitation of operational support, including the interview of and provision of security to witnesses.
“Spare no one, hold accountable every personality who had a hand in the senseless killings perpetrated by abusive persons in authority during the past administration’s anti-illegal drug campaign,” Remulla said in his directive.
He gave the group 60 days after its creation to submit its first report on the progress of the probe.
NOT ATTENDING
Duterte yesterday backtracked on his willingness to attend today’s hearing of the quad committee, saying his appearance is no longer necessary as he has already said everything when he faced the Senate sub-panel last week.
Duterte’s lawyer Martin Delgra said his client has expressed doubts on the fairness of the House joint committee in handling the legislative inquiry even if he had no qualms participating in last week’s hearing in the Senate.
“Regrettably, upon consultation with him, my client respectfully manifests that while he respects and recognizes the authority of the honorable committees to conduct inquiries, in aid of legislation, he cannot attend the public hearing as scheduled,” Delgra said.
In a latter to the panel led by Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, Delgra said: “First, with all due respect, my client is already doubtful as to the honorable House quad committee’s integrity, independence, and probity to conduct the legislative inquiry in aid of legislation.”
Delgra also said that while his client’s attendance is meant to provide valuable insights and to shed light on issues under discussion, particularly on EJKs, “it is apparent that the inquiry is a mere political ploy aimed to indict him for crime or crimes he did not commit.”
He also said the former president has already faced the Senate probe on the drug war last October 28 where he “extensively discussed and shared his knowledge as to the alleged extrajudicial killings during his administration.”
“More importantly, he gave valuable inputs on how to strengthen the war on illegal drugs, a demonizing element and national menace,” he said. “In view of the foregoing, it is my client’s position that his presence before the honorable joint committee in the public hearing set on November 7, 2023 in Quezon City is no longer necessary,” Delgra said.
While he was able to attend the Senate hearing last Monday, Duterte earlier begged off from attending the quad committee’s hearing on October 22, with Delgra saying his client had just returned to Davao City from Manila last October 17 and was “currently not feeling well and is in need of much rest.”
In a previous letter to the joint panel, Delgra said the former president was willing to attend the inquiry after All Saints’ Day.
“Rest assured of my client’s willingness to appear before the House of Representatives on some other available date, preferably after November 1, 2024,” he said.
During the Senate inquiry, Duterte admitted that as Davao City mayor, he created a seven-man hit squad known as the Davao Death Squad (DDS) led by former PNP chiefs, including former PNP chief and now Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
While claiming that he did not directly order summary killings, Duterte said that he instructed officers to provoke suspects to fight back, making it easier to justify their deaths.
Congressmen have been wanting Duterte to confront former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Royina Garma, a former police lieutenant colonel, who testified about the drug war reward system, claiming that cash incentives were provided to personnel who eliminated suspected drug offenders.
Garma previously accused Duterte of spearheading in May 2016 the nationwide expansion of the alleged “Davao model,” which encouraged the killing of drug suspects in exchange for cash.
She also claimed that cash rewards for drug war kills under Duterte ranged from P20,000 for street-level suspects, to P1 million for “chemists, traders, manufacturers, financiers, and ninja cops.”
She alleged Senators Dela Rosa and Christopher “Bong” supposedly played significant roles in the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign, which claimed thousands of lives, including those of innocent civilians.
Dela Rosa was the chief implementer of the drug war when he was PNP chief during the early years of the Duterte administration, while Go is allegedly linked to the rewards system for cops who killed drug suspects.
Lawmakers from the Young Guns bloc said Duterte should view the quad comm hearings as an “opportunity for redemption” instead of a political attack on him and his allies.
“It’s a chance for Duterte to solidify his legacy by showing he values truth and transparency, potentially gaining respect for addressing challenging questions head-on,” said Manila Rep. Ernix Dionisio. “The people expect responsible leadership. This shows that they see truth and integrity as essential traits for leaders, past and present. The former president is not exempt from this expectation.”
Taguig City Rep. Pammy Zamora, a lawyer, said Duterte has the opportunity to show Filipinos “his commitment to lawful processes by participating in the quad comm inquiry into the war on drugs, which allegedly claimed over 30,000 lives.”
Zamora said Duterte’s attendance would “reinforce respect for the rule of law by advocating that everyone, regardless of former titles, should be willing to answer for their actions.”
By appearing before the quad committee, she said Duterte could dispel the impression that he favors the Senate as a venue over the House in defending his war on drugs.
TRANSCRIPT
Reps. Jude Acidre (PL, Tingog) and Raul Angelo Bongalon (PL, Ako Bicol) expressed support for the release of the official transcript of the Senate hearing on the war on drugs, saying there should be no issue in providing it to the International Criminal Court (ICC) which is investigating Duterte for “crimes against humanity.”
“Well, the Senate hearing was a public proceeding. Nakita nga (It was seen), it was streamed live in social media. It’s a matter of certifying. I don’t think there’s going to be a problem with it,” Acidre said.
He questioned why Dela Rosa is against sharing the transcript with the ICC, saying that releasing the document should not be misconstrued as cooperation with the international body.
“I don’t see the point of the good senator (Bato dela Rosa) kung bakit ayaw niya. It cannot be misconstrued as cooperating because other than what actually happened and what actually has been said, wala namang idadagdag doon (nothing will be added to iyt),” Acidre said, adding that if the statements made during the hearing were truthful, Dela Rosa should not fear sharing it with any entity.
Bongalon echoed Senate President Francis Escudero’s stand on releasing documents for justifiable purposes.
“For me, I don’t see any reason for the Senate not to grant any request for the official transcript of the Senate blue ribbon committee,” Bongalon said. “If it’s for a justifiable purpose, then they will issue it.” – With Wendell Vigilia
