Pimentel calls for Senate majority caucus amid police 'killing spree'

Members of the Senate's majority bloc will meet on Sunday afternoon to discuss the "state of killing" following the police's intensified campaign against illegal drugs last week and the death of 17-year-old Kian Loyd delos Santos.

Senator Panfilo Lacson told radio dzBB that there is a growing sentiment among members of the majority to investigate the latest police killings, including the death of Delos Santos in Caloocan City last week.

Lacson said the possible inquiry may be referred to the Senate public order and dangerous drugs committee, which he chairs.

He said Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III called for the majority caucus.

"Siya ang may panukala na mag-meeting kami para makuha ang sense ng nakakarami, kung ano ang dapat gawin dahil sa sunud-sunod na patayan, parang state of killing," Lacson said.

On Saturday, members of the Senate's minority bloc also vowed to push for an investigation into the police killings and the death of Delos Santos.

The senator said that the Senate may also release a resolution expressing the institution's sense against the latest police killings.

In a text message, Pimentel said the resolution is already 95 percent complete. It may be released early this week.

Lacson said the possible direction of the inquiry would be to find out if the latest killings of suspected drug personalities in Bulacan and Metro Manila are state sponsored and investigate the killing of Delos  Santos.

"Hanggang ngayon tuluy-tuloy ang pagpatay. Sabihin nga natin, killing spree..." he said.

"Bakit tuwing bubuga ang Pangulo at pagsasabihan ang PNP (Philippine National Police) ay bakit parang nagkakaroon ng ganoong pattern. While meron ngang findings noon na 'di state sponsored, puwede nating tingnan muli at reviewhin baka maiba ang findings," he added.

Lacson was referring to the findings of the Senate justice committee chaired by Senator Richard Gordon, which said that the thousands of drug-related killings are state sponsored. The report also downplayed the existence of the Davao Death Squad that allegedly carried out killings on orders of President Rodrigo Duterte when he was mayor.

Last week, at least 90 drug suspects were killed by policemen raids in Bulacan, Manila and the Camanava area.

A total of 32 drug suspects were killed by Bulacan policemen in raids conducted in just 24 hours. On Thursday night, 34 drug suspects were also killed by Manila policemen in simultaneous raids and 24 more were killed by Camanava policemen, including Delos Santos, from Thursday night to early Friday.

Lacson said after operation reports of policemen on the drug raids will be carefully reviewed during the possible hearing.

He said the Senate probe will also zero in on the CCTV camera footage that allegedly showed Delos Santos dragged by policemen.

The family of the teenager said that footage contradicts the Caloocan City policemen's claim that Delos Santos tried to escape and fired at them using a .45 pistol.

Lacson is confident that witnesses in the Delos Santos' killing will come out and surface in the possible Senate probe.

On Saturday, the Caloocan City police presented an arrested drug suspect who claimed that Delos Santos was a drug runner.

The Caloocan City police also claimed that the person being dragged by policemen in the CCTV footage was not Delos Santos.

Cops inspired

Lacson said it is also a possibility that the latest police killings of drug suspects is a result of Duterte's earlier pronouncements defending policemen involved in killings, including Superintendent Marvin Marcos.

Marcos, who is initially charged with murder is now facing homicide charges along with several other policemen over the killing of former Albuera, Leyte mayor Rolando Espinosa, had been put back on duty and reassigned as director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group's regional office in Soccsksargen.

"Kasi napaka-tolerant sa ganun. Nandyan agad nakadepensa. Siyempre ang mga awtoridad nagiging bara bara na," he said.

The senator also said he was aware of rumors of a police "quota" system in the campaign against illegal drugs.

He said that if police units are indeed given a "quota" in the anti-drugs campaign, lawmen tend to become "overeager" and "create a scenario to score."

"Kung walang makuha sa intelligence report. Gagawa na lang sila ng scenario at pupulot ng maski sino at tatamnan nila ng baril at shabu. Iyon ang napakasama," he said. —ALG, GMA News