DAVAO City Rep. Paolo Duterte filed a resolution the other day urging the House of Representatives to conduct a broader investigation on the real situation of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) and human rights abuses in the country for a period of at least 25 years up to the present.
In filing House Resolution No. 1745, Duterte appealed to Congress to direct appropriate House committees to conduct a nationwide investigation, in aid of legislation, to include in particular areas identified to have been involved or has a history of cases of EJKs and human rights abuses.
Duterte pointed out that it is only proper for the House of Representatives to revisit and scrutinize the surounding circumstances behind the progressing incidents of EJKs all over the country, not only Davao, and it would cover a period of not only six years, but at least 25 years up to the present.
The Davao lawmaker said that based on reliable reports, including from the US Department of State and Amnesty International stated that EJKs in the country remain a serious problem and many of the drug-related ones peaked in 2023 or already at the time of President Marcos.
Duterte mentioned in particular, based on reports by the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and other related law enforcement agencies, the cities of Manila and Cebu and Quezon City as among the areas with high recorded incidents of EJKs and human rights violations.
“To evaluate the existing laws, rules and regulations that uphold and promote the constitutional guarantee against any form of human rights violation, it is just but proper for the House of Representatives to direct the appropriate House committees to conduct an investigation, in aid of legislation, to uncover the real situation of EJKs and other human rights abuses in the country for a period of at least 25 years up to the present,” Duterte said.
