News Roundup 23 September 2024
Sep 23, 2024 • 5 min Read
Lawmakers urge Bato Dela Rosa to own up to EJKs as police chief | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — House lawmakers on Monday, September 23, called on Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, the former police chief who led the war on drugs, to take responsibility for the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during the Duterte administration.
In a statement, Rep. Paolo Ortega (La Union, 1st District) said that Dela Rosa should own up to his responsibility as the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) chief from 2016 to 2018 and stop pointing fingers at his subordinates.
“It’s the height of cowardice. Don’t pass the blame to your subordinates. It all boils down to command responsibility. They were just following orders from the higher-ups, which happens to be the PNP under his leadership,” Ortega said.
The lawmaker added that it is “obviously inevitable” for Dela Rosa to face the consequences of his leadership during the drug war after policemen put their lives on the line following his orders.
“It is unjust for Senator Bato to now distance himself and let them face the consequences alone. If there is anybody who should face this head on, it is their commander, not just the officers,” Ortega said.
Rep. Ernix Dionisio (Manila, 1st District) agreed with Ortega, his fellow “young gun” in the lower chamber, saying that Dela Rosa should not “simply wash his hands off the bloodshed” after thousands were killed in the former president’s drug war.
Human rights groups have estimated that the death toll from the drug war has reached 30,000, factoring in unreported cases.
Meanwhile, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno recently revealed in the House quadcom’s probe into the drug-related EJKs that the Office of the President has an accomplishment report citing 20,322 drug war-related deaths from July 2016 to Novemeber 2017.
Full Story at: Lawmakers urge Bato Dela Rosa to own up to EJKs as police chief | Philstar.com
Philippines sends AFP, PCG vessels to Escoda Shoal | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Days after withdrawing its lone patrol from Escoda Shoal, the Philippines will reassert its claim over the area by deploying both coast guard and naval vessels to the shoal.
The National Maritime Council revealed the development yesterday, but declined to share details such as the number or types of ships involved. The NMC also did not say if the vessels are already in Escoda.
“Actually, it’s not only the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). We also have the presence of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. So it’s a combination of the assets,” NMC spokesman Alexander Lopez said at a forum in Quezon City.
Philippine Navy vessels are under the AFP. The PCG is a civilian agency attached to the Department of Transportation, unlike the China Coast Guard, which is under its military commission.
Lopez reiterated that the Philippines is maintaining its presence in Escoda, guarded for several months until last week by the PCG’s BRP Teresa Magbanua.
“I can’t say whether the ships are anchored or sailing. Like I said before, we’re making adjustments now,” Lopez said.
The Teresa Magbanua withdrew from Escoda Shoal to return to its base in Palawan to undergo repairs and allow its crew to have furlough and attend to their medical concerns. Its personnel were also treated for dehydration due to limited supplies.
“We’re adjusting our operational concept or modality. So, anchoring is one way, but I’m not saying we’re anchored,” Lopez said.
He stressed it is important to maintain physical presence in Escoda. “It’s better that they’re (China) guessing where we are. Because when they know where we are, that’s where they go. They’re like magnets,” Lopez said.
Full Story at: Philippines sends AFP, PCG vessels to Escoda Shoal | Philstar.com
Resource persons must take ‘truth’ oath in House hearings – solon | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Resource persons will no longer be allowed to avoid taking the oath to tell the truth during hearings of the House of Representatives.
Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua said what Vice President Sara Duterte did during the House committee on good government and public accountability hearing last week would not set a precedent for other resource persons.
Duterte refused to take her oath during that hearing, which discussed a lawmaker’s privileged speech about issues surrounding the budget of her office. This forced lawmakers to instead direct questions to other resource persons.
“All of the witnesses and resource persons are required to take an oath for us to know if they are saying the truth and nothing but the truth,” the panel head said in a statement Sunday.
“This does not mean that this incident, because we allowed a resource person not to take an oath, would be the precedent for the next committee hearings. That would not happen,” he added.
According to Chua, what Duterte did during the committee hearing last September 18 is a contemptible action, but they chose to let it slide out of respect for the Office of the Vice President.
Full Story at: No more skipping ‘truth’ oath by House hearing resource persons (inquirer.net)
Bato says Acop no longer his ‘idol’: Masyado na siyang nakalalake | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop is no longer seen as an “idol” by a senator after “insulting” a comrade from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).
It was just last month when Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa addressed Acop with the utmost respect as he apologized over his “unprincipled” and “opportunistic” tirades against lawmakers’ flip-flopping stand on the previous administration’s war on drugs.
“Isa ‘yan sa mga PMAer naging pulitiko na hinahangaan ko. Dalawa ‘yan sila ni Sen. (Panfilo) Lacson, aking iniidolo na mga PMAer-turned-legislators,” Dela Rosa said in a press briefing during that time.
(He’s one of the PMAers who became a politician that I admire. There are two of them — him and Sen. Panfilo Lacson — whom I idolize as PMAer-turned-legislators.)
But on Monday, Dela Rosa took back what he said about Acop being his idol.
“Hindi na (Not anymore)!” the senator said when asked if still considers Acop an idol.
When asked again if it was because of Acop’s latest remark against him, Dela Rosa said: “The most insulting comment that I received from a PMAer like me. Masyado na siyang nakalalake (He’s acting too macho).”
Full Story at: Bato says Acop no longer his ‘idol’: Masyado na siyang nakalalake (inquirer.net)
