De Lima said in the Senate inquiry that the campaign against illegal drugs has been used as an excuse to commit murder with impunity.
Sen. Leila de Lima emphasized the importance of holding a senate inquiry by the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights regarding the series of extra-judicial executions in the country.
De Lima, who is the committee chairperson, said that the focus of the investigation is on the issue of “criminal act” and not directed to prosecution or hinder the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.
“Mayroong nakikisakay at nakikisabay lang sa lehitimong operasyon ng kapulisan para makatakas sa batas,” said De Lima.
(There are people who ride-on the legitimate police operations to evade the eyes of law.)
She added that the situation has already become alarming and even PNP chief Dir. Gen. Ronald Dela Rosa has confirmed that over 800 individuals have been slain by the vigilantes while over 700 were killed in the course of the legitimate police officers.
This shows that more were killed by the groups outside the PNP, De Lima said.
In her opening statement which was accompanied by an audio visual presentation, the lady senator said, “grabe na ito” (this is worrisome) and further said that the killings must be stopped.
De Lima brought 12 witnesses from eight cases of 11 victims of the anti-drug campaign to appear in the Senate inquiry.
The senator later clarified and assured that the Senate hearing is geared toward helping the campaign of the police, the Internal Affairs Service of the PNP and protection of human rights.
“May indikasyon na hindi lahat ng mga pagpaslang ay may kaugnayan sa kampanya laban sa droga,” said De Lima. “What is worrisome is that the campaign against drugs seems to be an excuse for some to commit murder with impunity”.
Aside from the senators who called for the joint investigation, also invited to attend as resource persons were Dela Rosa for the PNP, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Commission on Human Rights (CHR) represented by Atty. Chito Gascon, among others.
To read more about PNP chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa’s statement on the inquiry please refer to the next page.