STEPPING UP
SOME lawmakers are expecting that more witnesses would come forward now that former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is in the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
According to the solons, fear among potential witnesses and whistleblowers is beginning to dissipate.
Deputy Majority Leader and La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega said that those who were once afraid to speak out may now find the courage to testify against Duterte and his allies.
“Sigurado ‘yun, mas lalong may mga taong magco-come forward saka ‘yung mga tao sigurong mas takot dati, medyo nawawala na ‘yung takot nila. At ‘yun nga, ‘yung iba naman kinakain na ng konsensya,” Ortega said.
He added that the case is ultimately about justice for the victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs).
“Gusto nila na mabawasan na ‘yung iniisip nila dahil sabi ko nga, this is a story of justice at lahat ng kuwento kailangan may katapusan. We have to finish this story, and therefore, sabi ko nga, ang bida dito, ang dapat makamit ng hustisya eh ‘yung mga biktima po at tsaka ‘yung mga nakita natin na pamilya nila,” he said.
House Assistant Majority Leader and Ako Bicol Rep. Jil Bongalon noted that past efforts to investigate the Duterte administration’s bloody drug war were limited, leaving many victims with no avenue to seek justice.
“If we really observe what happened during the past administration, there was no thorough and comprehensive investigation about the EJK,” Bongalon said.
He pointed out that congressional investigations, including those led by the House of Representatives through the Quad Comm, served as a platform for individuals to shed light on the implementation of the drug war.
“In fact, one of the actions taken by the House of Representatives is the investigation about the EJK, the drugs, the POGO and other controversies. With that investigation, it served as a platform for persons to really enlighten regarding the implementation of the bloody war on drugs,” he said.
Bongalon recalled that several figures, including controversial police officers like Col. Jovie Espenido, had testified before Congress regarding the drug war.
For his part, House Assistant Majority Leader and Tingog Rep. Jude Acidre, meanwhile, emphasized that the arrest of Duterte was not political persecution but accountability for the thousands of Filipinos who lost their lives in the war on drugs.
“Gusto kong maintindihan ng ating mga kababayan, itong pangyayaring ito, hindi natin ginigipit si dating Pangulong Duterte. Sinisingil lang siya ng taong bayan,” he said.
Acidre pointed out that even young children fell victim to the killings, yet there was little effort to seek justice for them.
