News Roundup 30 October 2024
Oct 30, 2024 • 5 min Read
Senate urged to send Duterte ‘confession’ to ICC | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Makabayan bloc lawmakers on Tuesday urged the Senate to submit to the International Criminal Court (ICC) its records on former President Rodrigo Duterte’s admission of urging policemen to “encourage” suspects to fight back as a pretext to kill them during the previous administration’s brutal war on drugs.
House Assistant Minority Leader Arlene Brosas also asked the Marcos administration to stop blocking the ICC probe following Duterte’s “brazen and unapologetic” admission during Monday’s Senate blue ribbon subcommittee inquiry, taking full responsibility for the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) in the drug war.
Brosas argued that the Philippines should cooperate with the ICC to give justice to the thousands of innocent victims of the antidrug campaign.
‘Damning confession’
According to House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro, Duterte’s testimony is a “damning confession that confirms what human rights advocates have been saying for years,” pointing out that “his admission of encouraging police to provoke suspects to fight back as a pretext for killing them is not just disturbing; it’s a clear violation of human rights and due process.”
The ACT Teachers party list representative stressed that the “nanlaban” (fought back) narrative was systematically used to justify thousands of drug war deaths, lamenting that “many innocent lives were lost under the guise of ‘nanlaban,’ even when victims clearly did not resist. Now we have direct confirmation that this was indeed official policy.”
Full Story at: Senate urged to send Duterte ‘confession’ to ICC
House members hit leeway given to Bato, Go in Senate hearing | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The review from the House of Representatives of the Senate’s turn to scrutinize the six-year drug war waged by former President Rodrigo Duterte was far from flattering.
For two members of the House quad committee, which for the past two months had conducted hearings on the brutal crackdown, the Senate blue ribbon committee allowed two loyal allies of the ex-president to “influence the proceedings.”
They were referring to senators Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and Christopher “Bong” Go, who joined the hearing that marked the first appearance of former President Rodrigo Duterte in an official body revisiting his campaign that left thousands dead.
In a press conference on Tuesday, Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante and Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez said the way the two senators conducted themselves “diminished the credibility” of Monday’s opening hearing led by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko Pimentel.”
Of Dela Rosa, Abante said: “The way he sounded, he was more of a senator-suspect or senator-respondent. There was nothing wrong with that, but he should have seated himself with his former boss (Duterte), who wanted to be called a witness instead of a resource person. That would have been more appropriate than sitting with the investigating panel in order to defend his actions.”
Before entering politics, Dela Rosa served as the first Philippine National Police chief appointed by then-President Duterte, the earliest enforcer of the antinarcotics campaign that left thousands dead.
Full Story at: House members hit leeway given to Bato, Go in Senate hearing
Ex-senator hits Duterte over Senate ‘invasion’, defends Hontiveros | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — A former senator has criticized what he perceived as a disrespectful takeover of the Senate hearing into the previous administration’s controversial war on drugs.
In a recent statement, former Sen. Panfilo Lacson condemned former President Rodrigo Duterte’s demeanor before the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee probe on Monday, asserting that he had “invaded” the upper chamber of Congress.
Lacson said only one senator defended the Senate’s dignity from the former president’s behavior during the hearing.
“Yesterday (Monday), the Upper Chamber was ‘invaded’ by the former president of the Republic. Only one consistently and steadfastly stood up to preserve the dignity of the Philippine Senate,” Lacson said.
“She happens to be a woman who answers, ‘present’ during a roll call. Her name: Risa Hontiveros,” the former senator emphasized.
Lacson’s statement was echoed by another former senator, Antonio Trillanes IV, who remarked that “the only bright spot in yesterday’s Senate hearing was Sen. Risa’s standing up to the evil Duts.”
“‘Yan ang leader! Matapang! Matalino! Magaling!” Trillanes declared in a statement.
Hontiveros repeatedly admonished Duterte for using profanity during the Senate hearing.
Full Story at: Ex-senator hits Duterte over Senate ‘invasion’, defends Hontiveros | Philstar.com
PNP to probe alleged Davao Death Squad of Rodrigo Duterte | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) will investigate the possible existence of an alleged death squad reportedly formed by former President Rodrigo Duterte in Davao City during his tenure as mayor.
In a press briefing on Wednesday, October 30, Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said the PNP is examining recent statements made by Duterte during a Senate hearing on October 28.
“If you’ve monitored the former president’s statements, with all due respect, he initially mentioned claims of a death squad, which he later retracted. However, this will not stop the PNP from pursuing an investigation into this case,” Fajardo said in a mix of English and Filipino.
Fajardo added that PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil has ordered the “extraction” of data on unsolved drug-related deaths reportedly tied to the alleged death squad.
On Monday, Duterte admitted to forming a death squad in Davao City during his mayoral term, clarifying that it did not include police officers and had an organized structure.
He further denied claims of a reward system, countering statements made by former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Royina Garma, who previously alleged that rewards were offered to police to kill drug suspects.
According to Fajardo, the PNP will avoid giving preferential treatment if evidence points to the involvement of a former high-ranking police official.
“A series of meetings has already commenced to coordinate investigative efforts aimed at a credible and transparent probe, not only of the alleged Davao death squad but also of all cases specified during recent Senate and congressional hearings,” Fajardo said.
Full Story at: PNP to probe alleged Davao Death Squad of Rodrigo Duterte | Philstar.com
