De Lima: Probe on spate of killings of drug suspects to start next month

Sen. Leila de Lima said Wednesday she expects to start the probe on the spate of killings of drug suspects on the second or third week of August.

"As far as I’m concerned, of course subject to discussions also with committee members, ang target ko is second or third week of August would be the start (of the probe)," said De Lima, who heads the Senate committee on justice and human rights.

She filed the resolution seeking probe on the killings early this month. 

But De Lima said they are still in the process of determining how to conduct the probe.

The justice and human rights committee will be the primary committee while the public order and illegal drugs, chaired by Sen. Panfilo Lacson, will be the secondary committee to handle the matter.

“Pag-uusapan namin ngayon kung magjo-joint hearing ba ang dalawang committee, under the Rules pwedeng joint, pwedeng hiwalay. Earliest (nag mag-uusap kami ni Sen. Lacson) would be Monday, but we can coordinate even before Monday,” she said. 

De Lima said that during the hearing, they will be highlighting specific cases of suspected summary execution.

“Ang balak ko po, we will be highlighting specific cases where we think the surrounding circumstances dun sa killing especially during police operations, legitimate or otherwise, ay suspicious of circumstances or there are signs of summary execution,” she said. 

“We are going to identify, or showcase, or highlight representative cases na sa tingin namin meron talagang mga indikasyonn na something is wrong because there are signs of executions,” she added.

She, however, refused to give details on which cases they will be presenting.

She said she also wanted to know the extent of the problem and the number of the victims. 

"Gaano kalala ang problema, gaano kalala yung nakikita natin araw araw sa telebisyon, sa balita na may mga namamatay in the course of the intensified drive against criminality particularly illegal drugs? Abo ang tamang numero ng mga namamatay kasi iba iba ang figures?" she said.

Nonetheless, De Lima clarified that she is not saying that the cases of summary execution are rampant.

“Let me clarify that I’m not saying right now na marami yung ganung kaso. Kaya nga isa yan sa thrust ng investigation na yan.  What are we looking at, what is the percentage of the killings na yan. Kailan natin maituturing na suspicious or questionable dahil may signs of summary execution,” she said.

She also refused to say who are the resource persons they will be calling for the hearing.

“Meron na kaming tentative list of  invitees and resource speakers but I’m afraid that I cannot share that with you at this point,” she said.

Lacson's views

Meanwhile, Lacson said De Lima approached him on the plenary to ask that the resolution be referred to her committee instead of his. He said the Bills and Index Division agreed with the latter.

“I told her that’s not a problem,” he said.

However, Lacson said that does not mean that he is changing his position on the probe.

“I still maintain that the Senate is not the proper venue to investigate specific cases of possible extrajudicial killings. I do not want to break the unprecedented momentum and heavy gains of law enforcement against illegal drugs in our country,” he said in a text message.

“I may participate if only to out on record my views and opinion on the matter,” he added. 

Death toll

Based on police figures, 213 alleged drug pushers have been killed in the first 21 days of President Rodrigo Duterte.

But figures from GMA News' monitoring showed that 316 drug-related deaths have been recorded from June 30 to July 26.

A total of 118 of those killed were from Metro Manila, 35 in Bulacan, and 163 were from other areas.  

Solicitor General Jose Calida earlier said the police should not be afraid of the legislative inquiries as he will be there to defend them. 

"We will not allow anybody to derail this effort of the PNP (Philippine National Police) and its officers to implement the order of our President, to stop this drug trafficking and drug menace in our society,” he said. 

"If there is a fiscalizer, I am the neutralizer and the defender of the PNP. So 'wag kayong matakot, mga pulis and other operatives. Marami na po tayong batas. There is no need for investigation in aid of legislation kuno,” Calida added.

For his part, Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo dismissed the legislative probe as “attempt to discredit the police operations.” 

“Any attempt to conduct a Senate investigation by any member especially of that particular senator who wants to conduct the investigation may be viewed as an attempt to discredit the police operations against the drug menace,” Panelo said in an interview on July 11.  — RSJ, GMA News