LIVE: Senate hearing on drug-related killings - Day 2

August 23, 2016 - 9:23am

Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights chair Leila de Lima (top left) fields questions to security and human rights officials present during the Senate inquiry on the recent rise in extrajudicial killings and summary killings involving suspected criminals on Monday. De Lima said that the probe seeks to strengthen the government’s ability to fight crime, while stressing that the blatant disregard for human life must end: “Extrajudicial or extralegal killings, whether perpetrated by the State or by non-state actors must stop.” Also in photo are (from left to right, clockwise) Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto, Senate President Pro Tempore Franklin Drilon, and Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV. Senate PRIB/Cesar Tomambo

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights and Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs on Tuesday will resume its inquiry on the rising number of drug-related killings in the country.

During the first Senate hearing on extrajudicial killings on Monday, the witnesses said that the victims were low-level drug pushers killed by corrupt law enforcers were either their protectors or suppliers in the narcotics trade.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) also stressed that it is opposed to extrajudicial and vigilante killings of suspects.

“On the speculation of vigilante killings, the PNP does not and will never condone vigilante killings,” PNP Director General Ronald Dela Rosa said in his opening statement at the Senate hearing.

The Senate panel invited resource person from the Department of the Interior and Local Government, CHR, Philippine National Police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, as well as human rights and media groups.

LIST: Senate guest list for probe into drug killings

Watch the hearing LIVE starting 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016:

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