Ex-PRRD, De Lima nagkasama sa Senate probe sa war on drugs

MANILA, Philippines – Tuluyan nang simulan ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee ang imbestigasyon sa war on drugs ng nakaraang administrasyong Duterte na may layunin na tukuyin kung “state-sponsored” ang pagpatay sa lahat ng kasangkot sa droga.

Sa pagsisimula ng pagdinig, dumalo ang halos lahat ng mambabatas sa pangunguna ni Senador Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III bilang vice chairman ng Blue Ribbon Committee.

Dumalo rin sa pagdinig sina dating Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte at si dating Senador Leila De Lima na ipinakulong noong matapos patalsikin bilang chairman ng Senate committee on justice and human rights.

Bilang chairman ng komite, sinabi ni Pimentel na isasagawa ang imbestgiasyon nang walang takot o may papaburan at sundin lamang ang nakalatag na ebidensiya sa war on drugs na ipinatupad ni dating PNP chief, ngayon Senador Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.

“I want to start our investigation by examining first the Duterte administration’s enforcement of our anti-illegal drugs laws. How effective was the Duterte war on drugs? Did it follow the laws and rules? Was it compliant with the letter of the Constitution, as well as with the values and principles contained in our Constitution?” tanong ni Pimentel.

Sinabi ni Pimentel na bibigyan ng opurtunidad ang lahat ng biktima ng war on drugs na madinig ang kanilang hinaing at bigyan ng pagkakataon ang bawat senador na tukuyin kung paano isinagawa ng bansa ang war on drugs na patuloy na nagiging mahalagang pampublikong interes.

“Public office is a public trust and as such public officers and employees must be accountable to the people and should serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty and efficiency,” ayon kay Pimentel.

“Let us, therefore, answer the cries for justice from our people. Let us reform not just the Philippine National Police, but the entire nation of public service. We want to know the truth, not only because it can set us free, but also so we can strengthen the rule of law and then heal our land,” dagdag ni Pimentel.

Kasabay nito, inihayag naman ni Senador Risa Hontiveros na mainam na nagkaroon ng imbestigasyon sa war on drugs. Naunang inimbestigahan ni Hontiveros ang pagpatay kay Kian Delos Santos na isa sa biktima ng war on drugs sa Caloocan City na pawang inosente.

“The hearing may begin to bring about justice and healing for Kian’s family and other victims, ayon kay Hontiveros.

Kinuwestiyon din ni Hontiveros ang Philippine National Police’s (PNP) hinggil sa incentive system na nagbibigay pagbuhay sa sinumang pulisya na nakakapatay ng drug addict.

“To all those who say that the War on Drugs is a punishment for those who lose their way, my message to you is this: there is no honor in punishment like “tokhang.” It should not be an honor to be called The Punisher,” when thousands of innocent people, including babies, have died in your name. Filipinos will never be proud of that War on Drugs,” ayon kay Hontiveros. Ernie Reyes