Former president Rodrigo Duterte (Keith Bacongco/ MANILA BULLETIN)

The House of Representatives through for Committee on Human Rights is set to launch next week an inquiry on the alleged extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during the previous Duterte administration's war on illegal drugs. 

"We shall begin in earnest on Wednesday, May 22. Yun po yung first hearing namin (That will be our first hearing)," Committee Chairman Manila 6th district Rep. Bienvenido "Benny" Abante Jr. said in press conference Thursday, May 16. 

Abante says this is the first time that the committee will look into allegations of EJK in the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte. The latter served as Chief Executive from 2016 to 2022. 

Duterte, 79, is the arguably the most influential critic of his successor, incumbent President Marcos. 

But Abante was quick to point out that the House investigation won't be a "witch hunt". 

He said Duterte himself, and Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa--the latter's Philippine National Police (PNP) chief when the drug war was initiated--need not be summoned to attend the inquiry on account of "parliamentary courtesy". 

Dela Rosa is an incumbent senator and maintains close ties with Duterte. 

"Hindi na po [imbitahan] (They won't be invited anymore). I don’t even think that if we invite them that they will be able to attend...We would like to maintain that courtesy with the sitting senator and also with the former president," the Manila solon said of the two. 

"Pero iimbitahan po namin iyong talagang nandoon for example like [former PNP chief] Gen. [Oscar] Albayalde very much involved iyan (But we will invite the people who were really there like Gen. Albayalde, he's very much involved) and perhaps we will also be able to invite the former DOJ (Department of Justice) secretary Menardo Guevarra to shed light in all these things," he said. 

May 22 is the final session date of the second regular session of the 19th Congress. The next session will be in July, at the start of the third regular session. 

Critics of the drug war have claimed that over 10,000 people died during this campaign.

Asked for the reason why the committee was going to probe the matter only now, Abante said they are just acting on the resolutions filed by his colleagues in the current Congress. 

He vowed to conduct the hearing in a fair manner. "We would like to emphasize that the House will approach this inquiry with the impartiality, objectivity, sensitivity, and empathy that such a profound responsibility demands." 

"Now it is our responsibility to the victims of alleged extrajudicial killings––and their families––to seek the truth," he added.