HOUSE Quad Comm co-chairman Manila Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. on Thursday asked Filipinos to keep in their prayers the thousands of victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) of the Duterte drug war during this year’s Undas.
“As Chair of the Committee on Human Rights in the House of Representatives, I also ask that the thousands of victims of tokhang or extrajudicial killings be remembered,” Abante said on Thursday.
Abante noted that “The killers and the masterminds of the brutal war on drugs have not yet been arrested, prosecuted, convicted, and incarcerated for their heinous crimes.”
The human rights panel is one of the four panels that comprise the quad-comm, which has grabbed headlines for shocking revelations made by witnesses on former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s aggressive anti-narcotics drive.
The Quad Comm is the first to conduct a serious probe into this carnage, which allegedly took place from 2016 to 2022.
“Collective national amnesia is one of the enemies of justice. The wheels of justice turn too slowly in our country,” lamented the Manila lawmaker, a pastor-preacher.
“For these reasons, I ask the Supreme Court to recommend to Congress the enactment of laws that will set fair and reasonable deadlines on criminal cases to uphold the right of victims to speedy justice,” Abante said.
“The right to due process is being abused at the expense of the victims. This is why we seek the guidance of the Supreme Court on this matter. We seek fairness and balance,” he further said.
Former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Royina Garma, a vital witness of the quad-comm, had earlier testified that the Duterte drug war was fueled by a cash reward system, which drove up the death toll.
Critics of the previous administration have claimed that over 30,000 were killed during the war on drugs.
Former National Police Commission (Napolcom) Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo later corroborated Garma’s statements before the quad-comm. Both Garma and Leonardo are known to be close to Duterte.
The Quad Comm co-chairman also asked his fellow citizens to pray for victims of hazing.
“As a family advocate, I gently remind the public during the Undas holidays to offer prayers for comfort and justice for the families of many hazing victims whose cases have not yet led to the final conviction of their murderers,” he said.
