SENATOR Bato dela Rosa should not be hiding behind the protection of the Senate and instead just attend the Quad Comm probe and shed light on allegations that extrajudicial killings (EJKs) were instituted as a policy during the Duterte administration’s bloody drug war where the senator served as Director General of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
This is according to “Young Guns” member Zambales Rep. Jefferson “Jay” Khonghun, who said Dela Rosa should just answer if the allegations were true or not.
“Bilang isa sa mga miyembro ng Quad Comm, sana huwag ng magtago si Sen. Bato dela Rosa sa haligi ng Senado. Harapin iyong mga alegasyon at sagutin iyong mga issues, lalung-lalo na patungkol sa EJKs,” said Khonghun during Tuesday’s daily press briefing at the House of Representatives.
“Dahil siya lang ang magbibigay linaw sa mga issue na bumabalot kung ano ang nangyari talaga noong panahon ni Pangulong Duterte, dahil si Senator Bato ang arkitekto ng war against drugs noong panahon na iyon,” he added.
Dela Rosa has accused lawmakers in the Quad Comm probe as sounding like broken records for bringing up the issue of EJKs during Duterte’s bloody drug war that killed thousands of Filipinos.
Lanao del Sur Rep. Khalid Dimaporo said Dela Rosa was the PNP chief during the so-called drug war, as he defended the Quad Comm probe on the EJKs.
“Si Senator Bato was in charge of Oplan Double Barrel. So, whether or not there were extrajudicial killings, we’ll leave that to the courts to determine,” he said.
“On my part, there’s nothing wrong with us doing our jobs. You say paulit-ulit, that’s because the problem is never being resolved … Now, human rights is given a platform to become center stage, to be reviewed and looked upon kung talaga bang may violations,” Dimaporo stressed.
“Now, we have champions like Chairman Benny who is reviewing human rights violations with the budget of Congress being utilized, determining whether or not there’s a substantial fact na may EJK sa Pilipinas,” he said.
Nueva Ecija Rep. Mika Suansing said the Quad Comm cannot gloss over the allegations of EJKs during the bloody drug war.
“Bilang tugon lang po kay Senator Bato Dela Rosa, hindi po kasi natin pwedeng tanggalin yung usapin na EJKs kasi napaka-central nito sa usapan. Kasi po dati, pag tinitignan natin yung usapin … ng drug war eh laging ang focus ay yung mga namatay, gaano siya ka-gory, gaano siya ka bloody,” Suansing said.
“Pero wala po tayong nakukuha na sagot patungkol sa kung ano ba yung sistema, ano ba yung polisiya ng PNP nung mga panahon na iyon. At bilang PNP Chief, si Senator Bato yung pinaka-makakasagot noon,” she added.
“Kasi ang daming mga nakakabahalang mga lumilitaw po ngayon. Allegedly, merong quota system, merong incentives system sa lahat ng ranggo ng PNP. So hindi po natin talaga pwedeng tanggalin yung usapin ng EJK dito sa Quad Comm,” she said.
Tingog Rep. Jude Acidre said that based on accounts of resource persons invited to the Quad Comm hearings on EJKs, there is an alleged quota system implemented among policemen during the bloody drug war.
“Makikita natin na based sa mga testimonya ng mga ihinarap doon na mga witnesses, resource person na ihinarap sa komite, ay coordinated ang ginagawa, may mga alegasyon ng quota system. Hindi ito iyong inosenteng nanlaban lang, nakita natin na talagang may pattern of impunity na allegedly nag-motivate sa ating mga kapulisan,” Acidre said.
“At bilang mga Kongresista, I think it should be a matter of concern for us na ang ating kapulisan ay nasa tama at tuwid na landas lalo na sa pagpapatupad ng ating mga batas at pag-secure ng ating mga pamayanan. I think iyon yung gusto nating makamit,” he said.
“Kailangan natin malaman saan nagkamali tayo in terms of institutional safeguards. At ang taong pwedeng mag-explain lang nito talaga, ang dating Chief ng Pambasang Pulisya, si Senator Dela Rosa. Hindi naman ho siya iniimbitahan bilang Senador. Siya naman ho ay iniimbitahan para magbigay linaw, para mas balance ho. Nasa sa kanya po talaga ang susi,” he added.
