Courtesy: Human Rights Watch
AS the House Committee on Human Rights resumed its inquiry into the alleged extrajudicial killings that occurred during the previous administration’s war on drugs, committee chairperson Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. on Wednesday said that with the slain victims unable to testify it’s now up to the panel to let the evidence “speak” for them to assess and evaluate the veracity of the allegations.
According to Abante, “it is alleged that the rights of thousands of Filipinos were violated when they lost their lives in the anti-illegal drug campaign; they can no longer speak, so we must let the evidence speak for them.”
The respected legislator-pastor opened the hearing by stressing that the Book of Proverbs tells us “to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,” and that Proverbs 31:9 says “open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.”
“This passage,” Abante said, “serves as a powerful reminder of our duty today: to protect the vulnerable and uphold justice.”
The lawmaker reminded committee members and resource persons that the objective of the inquiry is “to determine whether human rights violations were committed against our countrymen during the conduct of the war on illegal drugs.”
“Our goal is to uncover the truth, to ensure accountability, and to uphold the principles of justice and human dignity. These hearings are not intended to persecute and to judge; they are a testament to the commitment of the House of Representatives to the Rule of Law and the protection of human rights,” the legislator from the 6th District of Manila explained.
Abante pointed out that the ongoing hearings “also serve as a reminder to our people and state actors that human rights are not an inconvenience to be set aside in the pursuit of safety and security.”
“We want to impress upon the country that human rights are vital and are the cornerstone of any true democracy, a democracy where every citizen can feel safe because peace and order is maintained through respect for the Rule of Law––not imposed through unjustifiable violence,” he added.
The House leader thanked resource persons who were present at the inquiry, and told them that they should “bear in mind the gravity of our responsibility; the eyes of the nation and the world are upon us, and as I have said before, it is our duty to conduct these proceedings with integrity, impartiality, and respect for the truth.”
“Let us work together to ensure that justice is served, and that the principles of human rights and the Rule of Law are upheld for all.
