manuel

DU30 ‘FAKE DRUG WAR’ SLAMMED

December 12, 2023 People's Journal 323 views

KABATAAN Party-list Representative Raoul Manuel has blasted former President Rodrigo Duterte’s alleged fake and bloody anti-illegal drugs campaign during his six-year term as president, saying the impending investigation of the International Criminal Court (ICC) should uncover the truth.

However, side-by-side with the ICC probe, Manuel also called for an independent investigation into the allegations of self-confessed hitman and Davao Death Squad member Arturo Lascañas, who claimed to investigative journalism group Vera Files about Duterte’s alleged links to illegal drugs.

“Kung ganito nga, lalabas na inilunsad lang ang giyera na ito para patumbahin ang mga karibal at tiyakin ang monopolyo sa iligal na droga sa bansa sa bisa ng kapangyarihan ng Malacañang. Sana mabigyang linaw din ito ng ICC investigation kaya dapat maituloy ito,” Manuel said.

“Ngunit marapat na magsagawa tayo ng sariling imbestigasyon muli sa usaping ito. Kung totoo man ang sinasabi ni Lascañas, pinapakita nito na peke ang gera kontra droga ng rehimeng Duterte.

Kaya naman pala puro maliitang pusher lang ang tinatarget noon,” he added.

The Partylist congressman also urged others who knew the truth about the Davao Death Squad or the actual Tokhang operations during the previous administration to come forward and testify against the former president.

“Kung mayroong imbestigasyon na dapat matuloy at mabilis na umusad, ito ang imbestigasyon sa lahat ng mga nagpasimuno ng madugong giyera kontra droga: Rodrigo Duterte, Bato dela Rosa, at iba pa,” Manuel said.

“Maghanda na ang mga sangkot, hindi gawa-gawa [ang mga ebidensiya], hindi pinuwersa, kundi sapat na batayan para seryosohin ang pagtiyak ng pagpapanagot sa mga maysala,” he continued.

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