đź“·Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raoul Manuel
Kabataan Partylist Representative Raoul Manuel has denounced the deliberate targeting of lawyers and prosecutors during the Duterte administration’s drug war, following alarming disclosures by Atty. Dexter M. Lopoz at the 10th Quad Committee Hearing on Extrajudicial Killings (EJKs).
“Hindi lang mga drug suspects ang pinapatay, pati mga abogado na gumagawa lang ng trabaho nila pinatatahimik through EJK. This strengthens the case for a Duterte prosecution in the ICC,” Manuel stated.
He highlighted the case of Atty. Rex Lopoz, illustrates how deeply embedded the culture of violence is within the Philippine National Police (PNP).
” Halimbawa ang nangyari kay Atty. Rex Lopoz kung paano naka-built in sa sistema ng PNP ang pagpatay. Ang nakasaad sa PNP documents, ang HVT list ay para sa pag-identify at pag-aresto ng high-ranking drug lords, pero ginagawa palang hit list, at nagpipwersa pa ng association sa mga inosente para malagay sa HVT list,” Rep. Manuel explained, referencing the shocking fact that lawyers like Atty. Rex Jasper Lopoz were included on these lists with bounties reaching up to 1 million pesos.
“Kung mga abogado mismo na ginagawa lang ang tungkulin nilang magbigay hustisya sa mga biktima ng drug war ay pinapatay, paano nga ba natin masisigurong mapapanagot si Duterte sa sarili nating mga hukuman? This is exactly why we need the ICC. It’s high time for the Marcos Jr. administration and its state agencies to stop blocking the ICC investigation. Kung totoong gusto nilang managot si Duterte sa kanyang mga krimen, they will cooperate with the ICC,” Manuel concluded. (ZIA LUNA)
