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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Solon wants Lascañas, ex-DDS members invited to House probe on EJK

Solon wants Lascañas, ex-DDS members invited to House probe on EJK

Published May 22, 2024 05:03 am

At A Glance

  • Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Raul Angelo "Jil" Bongalon says Arturo Lascañas, a self-confessed member of the Davao Death Squad (DDS), and other former members of the group should be invited to the House probe on the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during the previous Duterte administration's bloody war on drugs. 

CD9E6202-AC58-47D9-855E-33F388263045.jpegAko Bicol Party-list Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon (PPAB)

Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Raul Angelo “Jil” Bongalon says Arturo Lascañas, a self-confessed member of the Davao Death Squad (DDS), and other former members of the group should be invited to the House probe on the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during the previous Duterte administration's bloody war on drugs.

Bongalon, a House assistant majority leader, said resource persons such as Lascañas and former DDS member Edgar Matobato can help shed light on how the EJKs were carried out, if any.

“Siguro kailangan din ho natin imbitahan ulit si Lascañas, sila Matobato, because these persons are involved in the Davao Death Squad,” said Bongalon during a press briefing.

(Maybe we also need to invite Lascañas, Matobato, because these persons are involved in the Davao Death Squad.)

“I guess these individuals will enlighten us on what is really the true nature of the anti-drug war campaign of the previous administration. Kasi hindi naman sila nabigyan talaga ng pagkakataon na ihayag ang lahat ng kanilang nalalaman at ang katotohanan laban dito sa illegal na droga,” he added.

(It's because they were not really given the opportunity to reveal everything they know and the truth about this illegal drugs.)

Bongalon noted that these resource persons will help enlighten the House Committee on Human Rights, chaired by Manila 6th district Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante, on the real situation of the previous administration’s anti-drug campaign.

Manila 1st district Rep. Ernesto “Ernix” Dionisio says he also wants to know from Lascañas and the others if there was a secret directive given to members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to commit EJKs during the Duterte administration.

“Real talk lang, ano. Yung mga EJK, kung titignan niyo, hindi siya isolated case eh. Hindi siya nangyayari sa isang lungsod lamang o isang lugar o probinsya lang, it happened sa buong bansa natin,” said Dionisio.

(Just real talk. The EJKs, if you look at them, they are not isolated cases. It doesn't happen in just one city or one area or province, it happened all over our country.)

“It leads to the question: kung meron bang secret directive na nangyari sa PNP nung nakaraang administrasyon? (if there was a secret directive for the PNP during the previous administration?),” the lawmaker asked.

According to international group Human Rights Watch, Duterte’s drug war had a death toll of over 12,000 from July 2016 to May 2022. At least 2,000 of these were reportedly linked to the PNP.

Dionisio stressed that the House of Representatives will not conclude the hearings until it finds out the root cause of the EJKs.

“Bawat buhay, mahalaga yan eh (Every life is important),” he emphasized.

Related Tags

Davao death squad extrajudicial killings Raul Angelo Bongalon War on drugs
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