Calida tells PNP: Don’t be afraid of Congress hearings, we will defend you

Solicitor General Jose Calida on Monday told the police not to be afraid of inquiries that will be conducted by Congress on the killings of drug suspects.

"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," Calida addressed policemen during a press conference at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame.

"I am here to encourage the PNP not to be afraid of any congressional or Senate investigations. We will defend them," he added.

Calida then mentioned the name of Sen. Leila de Lima and scored her plan to submit a resolution seeking an inquiry into the spate of killings of drug suspects since the Duterte administration assumed office.

"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," he said, hinting at De Lima, who has been labeled "The Fiscalizer."

De Lima filed a Senate resolution on Thursday seeking a legislative probe on the killings of drug suspects that could lead to the institutionalization of operational procedures of the PNP, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and other law enforcement agencies. 

“Halos araw-araw may mga namamatay and many of them are an offshoot of police operations so we have to look into the legitimacy of the manner of the method by which these police enforcers are doing their job,” she said during an interview with reporters.

Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat has filed a similar resolution at the House of Representatives.

Meanwhile, the SolGen said that when De Lima was secretary of justice, she failed to address the drug menace and it even became more widespread "even at her own turf, at the National Penitentiary."

"If she truly is sincere to stop this drug menace, let us ask her. What did she do as justice secretary in charge of the NBI, the prosecution service and the Correctional? Hindi po ito investigation in aid of legislation. To me I think it is investigation in aid of media mileage," Calida said.

He added the mileage sought by De Lima is not what the PNP needs since the police are risking their lives to arrest drug offenders who also suffer from a mental condition caused by their addiction.

"It is difficult, and it is dangerous to the lives of our police officers to arrest these drug-crazed offenders. Hindi puwedeng pakiusap ito. They are also armed and even if they are not armed, because of their mental condition, they will do everything to kill the police officers," Calida said.

Under Article 11 of the Revised Penal Code, police officers can legally kill a criminal or a suspect while in the line of duty as long as it is under justifiable circumstances.

Calida called on De Lima to review her criminal law.

"Mayroon po tayong batas sa Revised Penal Code, Article 11, justifying circumstances where the police can legally kill a criminal or a suspect. I believe Senator De Lima should review her criminal law," he said.

Before Calida addressed the police, PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa assured that he is against extrajudicial killings.

“Extrajudicial killings, ayaw ko po yan. Ang gusto ko po yung mga legitimate police operations. Kung kayo ay nagkakamali, kayo ay mananagot. Pero pag kayo ay gumagawa ng matino at legitimate na police operations, kayo po ay aming dedepensahan,” Dela Rosa said.

De Lima fires back

De Lima, meanwhile, denied Calida's claim.

She said that during her time as Justice Secretary, he personally tackled the drug problem at the New Bilibid Prison, which led to a series of raids at the national penitentiary.

She added that it is her duty as senator to conduct an inquiry to help her craft a proposed measure.

"Time and again the SC [Supreme Court] has upheld the authority of the Senate as a body and any of its committees to conduct such inquiry, calling it an essential component of lawmaking," De Lima said.

She said that despite Calida's statement, she will continue to push for the congressional inquiry.

De Lima said if her fellow senators would support her resolution, the inquiry may start right after the first State of the Nation Address of President Rodrigo Duterte.

In De Lima’s defense, Commission on Human Rights Commissioner Jose Cadiz said  the senator was well within her right to call for a congressional probe, in the same way that his office could start its own investigation.

“Di naman pwede na di kami makialam dahil may mandato kami na itaguyod ang karapatang pantao. May mandate din ang Senado na mag-imbestiga in aid of legislation,” he said in a separate interview aired on “News to Go.”

Cadiz bucked at Calida’s advice for De Lima to review her criminal law, saying the Solicitor General should have focused more on discussing the issue of drug-related killings rather than attacking her.

He said the Duterte administration should not take initiatives for a probe on drug-related deaths personally since other government entities are only doing their jobs by considering them. — Joseph Tristan Roxas and Xianne Arcangel/ALG/KG/RSJ, GMA News