Bulacan governor welcomes int’l probe but wants first crack at investigating drug slays

Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando on Wednesday said that he would welcome foreign investigators who would look into the alleged spate of extrajudicial killings supposedly in the course of President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs.

Amnesty International in its most recent report tagged Bulacan as the country's "bloodiest killing field."

This developed activists in Geneva claimed that more than two dozen countries on Thursday formally called for a United Nations investigation into the thousands of killings.

Iceland submitted the draft resolution, which supposedly asked the government to prevent extrajudicial executions and the Human Rights Council to address the crisis.

Fernando, however, said that he would rather that provincial officials take the first crack at the investigation.

"Mayroon kaming Sangguniang Panglalawigan to investigate that. Sa akin, kami na lang muna ang mag-iimbestiga rito pero kung talagang kinakailangan at pupunta sila't mag-iimbestiga sila, i-eentertain ko sila," Fernando told GMA News Online.

Malacañang criticized the draft resolution and said that an international investigation on the issue would be an interference with the country's sovereignty.

"Nalulungkot kami at nalulungkot ako bilang pinunong lalawigan ng Bulacan," Fernando said.

"Kakaupo ko pa lang, I would like to see the reality if this is true or not," he added.

Fernando said that he already called for an emergency meeting with police officials in Bulacan on Thursday to look into the extent of the drug problem in the province and take steps to assure the protection of human rights.

"Tayo ay sumusuporta sa laban kontra sa droga... Gayunpaman dapat tiyakin natin na walang anumang paglabag na magaganap lalo na sa karapatang pantao," Fernando said.

"Kinakailangan may due process. 'Yan ang ibibilin ko. Bigyan nila ng maka-Diyos at makataong pagtingin," he added.

‘Get out’

Fernando said that he will not let the 'bad image' caused by the alleged widespread killings to compromise the provincial development.

"Syempre nakakabahala ang report na 'yan kasi malamang apektado ang aming turismo dito, malamang ang investment namin, ang revenues namin syempre maaapektuhan ang mga negosyante rito," Fernando said.

He urged those involved in illegal drugs to stop their operations and leave the province.

"Babala po sa mga nagdo-droga at nandyan pa, nagpu-push ng drugs sa aking lalawigan, wala po kayong puwang dyan," Fernando said.

"Umalis na po kayo. Kung talagang 'yan ang pakay ninyo, maniwala po kayo sa akin, mayroon po tayong batas na papairalin dyan," he added.

"Huwag niyong sirain ang aming kabataan. Huwag niyong sirain ang aking lugar, huwag ninyong yurakan at warakin ang ating dakilang lalawigan ng Bulacan," Fernando said. —NB, GMA News