Senators seek inquiry into series of killings of citizens to break culture of impunity

Six senators on Monday sought a legislative investigation into the series of killings in the country, including that of a mother and her son who were shot dead by a cop in Tarlac.

At least 15 doctors, lawyers, journalists, and other members of the community had been killed in a span of just six months this year, from July to December, Senators Joel Villanueva, Sonny Angara, Nancy Binay, Grace Poe, Sherwin Gatchalian, and Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri pointed out in filing Senate Resolution No. 600.

Six senators sought a legislative inquiry on series of killings in PH a day after a cop shot 2 unarmed civilians in Tarlac. The probe has an end goal of ending the culture of impunity, “especially among law enforcement agencies,” the reso read. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/o9mPPX6r0i

— Dona Magsino (@donamagsino) December 21, 2020

The killings of Manila Chief Inquest Prosecutor Jovencio Senados; peace consultant for the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) Randy Echanis; activist Zara Alvarez; former NDFP consultants Agaton Topacio and Eugenia Magpantay; journalists Ronnie Villamor and Virgilio Maganes; and lawyers Eric Jay Magcamit, Joey Luis Wee, and Baby Maria Concepcion Landero-Ole were among those cited in the resolution.

The fact that justice remains elusive for the victims and their families highlight the need to launch a Senate inquiry into these killings, according to the senators.

The deaths of Tarlac residents Sonya Gregorio and her son Frank Anthony Gregorio, who were "mercilessly shot execution-style" by a cop, were also included.

"No words can capture the outrage we feel over the cold-blooded murder of a mother and her son in broad daylight by a police officer who took an oath to serve and to protect the people," Villanueva, one of the authors, said in a statement.

The senators hope that the Senate hearings would help identify gaps in law enforcement and "break the culture of impunity," especially among law enforcement agencies.

Two similar resolutions were also filed by their colleagues last week.—AOL, GMA News