FORMER Sen. Leila De Lima, who had just been cleared of all drug cases, appears headed for a face-off with the people who put her in jail, following the decision of a House panel to summon former President Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa to appear in the congressional inquiry on extrajudicial killings from 2017 until 2022.
Acting on the motion of Gabriela partylist Rep. Arlene Brosas, the House Human Rights Committee agreed to “invite” the prominent personalities to shed light on the previous administration’s bloody drug war.
The congressional panel, which has been looking into alleged human rights violations that took place under the Duterte administration, also invited De Lima as a resource person.
The House committee on human rights has invited former President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to its hearing on alleged extrajudicial killings during the previous administration’s war on drugs.
Brosas, who is also the House Assistant Minority Leader, cited the need for De Lima to testify since the former senator herself was charged – and recently cleared – with three non-bailable drug charges during Duterte’s incumbency.
Both motions were concurred without a single opposition from the committee members.
Previously, families of Duterte’s drug war casualties took turns testifying how the police barged into their homes late at night and killed their husbands and sons, including minors, without serving search or arrest warrants.
“As much as I want to give the due courtesy to the former President and Senator Dela Rosa, because of the gravity of the statements made here… they should face these people and hear their complaints,” House human rights panel chairperson and Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante said.
Dela Rosa was the Philippine National Police (PNP) Director-General from July 2016 until April 2018.
“Maybe the former President would find it in his heart to realize what he has done in the past six years,” Abante averred.
In a GMA News report, among those who have already testified included the families of slain drug suspects from Cebu and Caloocan City.
Raquel Lopez, the mother of Rabby Lopez who was killed in Cebu police anti-drug operations, couldn’t help but cry while recounting every inch of details as to how her innocent son was killed.
“Parang baboy po ang pagtrato sa anak ko. Kawawa naman yung anak ko, your honor. Napakabait ng anak ko, your honor. Wala po siyang record ng droga o pang aabuso. Napakasakit po,” Lopez said in vernacular.
Jennifer Padlan, daughter of Lucas Padlan Sr. who was killed in Barangay Bagong Silang in Caloocan City, recalled that policemen in civilian clothes barged into their house looking for a certain “Pilo”.
When she told the cops that there is nobody by that name living in their house, the policemen allegedly shoved her away and took her father to their kitchen, under the sink, before repeatedly pulling the trigger. Padlan Sr. died on the spot.
“Sumisigaw po siya, nanghihingi ng tulong, wala po kaming magawa. Balot po kami ng takot,” Jennifer said. (ANGEL F. JOSE)
