MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Leila de Lima asked yesterday urged President Duterte to temper his provocative rhetoric in his war on illegal drugs as he appeared to have encouraged extrajudicial killings nationwide.
Speaking over radio station dzBB, De Lima said Duterte must not go overboard in motivating law enforcers to run drug pushers.
“His after speeches really strengthen your resolve and there’s nothing wrong inspiring and motivating law enforcers to do their jobs – that’s the work of the President,” she said. “But the problem is there are equivocal statements – with due respect – from the President that encourage, promote or condone summary killings.”
“We cannot dictate or stop his personal style that is popular when he does that, but it must be balanced by some accompanying reminder on the limits of law enforcers,” De Lima said.
“We laud his sheer determination, his sheer resoluteness, but the marching orders appear to have become the absolute license (to kill) for the implementers,” shed added.
De Lima is alarmed that about five to seven suspected drug pushers have been killed daily – or an estimated total of over 100 deaths – since Duterte was elected on May 9.
She found it hard to believe that all of them fought with arresting officers or tried to “snatch policemen’s firearms” to force the police to defend themselves and kill the suspects, she added.
De Lima said based on her initial reading of reports, the deaths were “very dubious and under suspicious circumstances, and had telltale signs of summary execution.”
She supports Duterte’s “shame tactics” but authorities must make sure their evidence against those they named are solid, she added.
De Lima said she will be filing this week a resolution calling for an inquiry into the killings.
Some families of slain suspects have already filed complaints before the Commission on Human Rights, she added.
De Lima said the Senate investigation would be in aid of legislation to make sure that police do not violate the laws, not to weaken their morale. She envisions the inquiry will result in a bill on rules of engagement for all law enforcement agencies, including penalties for violations, she added.
‘Publicity hitchhiking’
Pro-administration Partido Demokratiko Pilipino- Lakas ng Bayan hit De Lima for “publicity hitchhiking” when she called for a Senate inquiry into the crackdown on criminality, particularly the illegal drug trade.
Ben Ranque, PDP-Laban deputy secretary general, said De Lima wants to reverse the attention of the public to the alleged extrajudicial killings of suspected drug traders and users.
“De Lima is a publicity hitchhiker, she is now flashing her right thumb to ride on the publicity of the anti-criminality and illegal drug crackdown, to cover up her dismal record as secretary of justice,” he said.
Ranque reminded De Lima that it was during her watch that the illegal drug trade, particularly in the New Bilibid Prison, proliferated.
“Where in the world can you see convicted crime lords living in luxury and directing their criminal operations right in their the luxury cells in the national penitentiary?” he said.
Ranque said at least three of the pillars of justice – law enforcement, prosecution and the penal system – are under direct supervision of the Department of Justice.
“Instead of calling for a Senate inquiry in aid of legislation, De Lima should help President Duterte in crafting a proposed measure for the full restoration of the shattered criminal justice system, which practically collapsed under her watch,” he said.
Ranque said the relatives of the Maguindanao massacre victims and the police commandos slain in Mamasapano are still awaiting justice for their loved ones.
He said De Lima did not file a single case against the suspects in the killing of the Special Action Force commandos when she was justice secretary.
Ranque called on De Lima to stop making noises to ride on the publicity of the crackdown on criminality.
“President Duterte, who is the chairman of PDP- Laban, is just cleaning up the mess and restoring the damaged pillars of criminal justice system left by De Lima,” he said. – Paolo Romero, Perseus Echeminada, Edu Punay