Senators want probe on recent spate of killings in Philippines

Several senators believe the Senate should step in and investigate the recent killings in the Philippines this year as two resolutions were filed seeking such action.

Senate Resolution No. 599 seeks to launch a probe on the "disturbing trend" of unlawful killings perpetrated by unidentified gunmen against activists, doctors, lawyers, and journalists all over the country.

"Their increasing brazenness and daring show how the law enforcement authorities have lost control of the country's peace and order," read the resolution filed by Senators Risa Hontiveros, Ralph Recto, Franklin Drilon, Francis Pangilinan, Nancy Binay, Leila De Lima, and Richard Gordon.

The assailants should be put to justice by law enforcement authorities to show that law and order is "still a reality," they said.

Recently killed by motorcycle-riding suspects were Dr. Mary Rose Sancelan and her husband Edwin in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental. Prior to her death, the physician was tagged as a New People's Army leader.

"I ask everyone, especially our own government officials, to cease all careless and pernicious red-tagging of our people. Innocent lives are at stake. When you openly vilify and tag civilians as communist rebels, you only lend credence to the suspicion that you have blood on your hands," Hontiveros said in a statement.

"At the same time, there are also others who were not red-tagged but have become victims of these killings. We need to look into this at once," she added.

Also mentioned in the resolution were the deaths of  Manila City Prosecutor’s Office Division chief Jovencio Senados; peasant leader and activist Randall Echanis; former Education Director of Human Rights Alliance KARAPATAN Zara Alvarez; and elderly couple and former peace consultants Agaton Topacio and Eugenia Magpantay, among many others.

Killings in the legal community

Senator Imee Marcos, meanwhile, sought an investigation into the killings of lawyers and judges in the country.

"In recent months, the entire legal community has been shocked by the successive assaults committed against members of the bar, leading to serious

harm, disappearances, and, for some, their untimely death," she said in filing Senate Resolution No. 593.

She cited the killing of former Batangas congressman and lawyer Edgar Mendoza, whose charred body was found in a burned vehicle in Tiaong, Quezon in January; the ambush of Camarines Sur Judge Jeaneth Gaminde-San Joaquin in October; and the death of Manila Regional Trial Court Judge Ma. Theresa Abadilla, who was shot by her clerk of court inside her own chambers in November.

Marcos also mentioned lawyer Eric Jay Magcamit who was gunned down by two unidentified men while he was on his way to a hearing last month.

In Cebu, lawyer Joey Luis Wee was also killed by motorcycle-riding suspects on November 21. A few weeks later, lawyer Baby Maria Concepcion Landero-Ole was shot in Looc, Danao City.

Aside from the killings, Marcos also wants to look into the disappearances of some members of the legal community.

She said the police are still at a loss on figuring out the whereabouts of former Court of Appeals Justice Normandie Pizarro whose car was found abandoned along a road in San Simon, Pampanga in October.

The same goes for University of the Philippines College of Law professor and Tourism official Ryan Oliva who went missing last month, she said.

The proper Senate committee should start its investigation on this "alarming rate of crimes" that is instilling fear among the members of the country's judicial system, according to the senator. — RSJ, GMA News