Inihayag ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa Senado na maraming dating hepe ng Philippine National Police (PNP) noong panahon ng kanyang termino ang naging pinuno ng “death squad”, kabilang si Senador Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.
Sa pagdinig ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, itinanggi ni Duterte ang pagkakaroon ng Davao Death Squad (DDS) subalit mga PNP chief na naging police chief sa Davao City ang naging pinuno umano ng “death squad”.
“Lahat itong sa right side ko, dumaan ito [sa] chief of police, police director. Puro commander ng death squad ‘yan,” pahayag ni Duterte matapos tanungin ni Senador Jinggoy Estrada.
“Trabaho ng pulis ‘yan. Eh literal, hindi mo sabihin na death squad, ‘yon isang senador, ‘yang naka-upo d’yan, si Senator Dela Rosa, death squad rin ‘yan because they were police directors handling, controlling crimes in the city,” saad pa niya.
Bukod kay Dela Rosa, ang iba pang tinutukoy ni Duterte na naging pinuno diumano ng “death squad” ay sina retired Gen. Archie Gamboa, retired Gen. Debold Sinas, at retired Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr.
“Dumaan ‘yan, eh ito, Dela Rosa, tanungin ko sila ngayon, tanungin ninyo, openly lahat ‘yan dumaan sa pagka-police chief, pati ‘yan si Gamboa, Danao kung may utos ba ako na patayin `yung tao na nakatali ‘yong paa pati ‘yong kamay sa likod, or assassinate them?” ani Duterte.
“Ang sinabi ko ganito: Prangkahan tayo, encourage the criminals to fight, encourage them to draw their guns, ‘yan buhay ‘yan, ‘yan ang instruction ko…Encourage them lumaban, ‘pagka lumaban, patayin ninyo para matapos na ang problema ko sa siyudad ko,” sabi pa ng dating pangulo.
Samantala, para sa mga kongresista, dapat umanong mapanagot si Duterte sa mga pagpatay kaugnay ng war on drugs matapos na akuin nito ang buong responsibilidad.
Sinabi ni House Deputy Majority Leader at Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre na malinaw ang naging pahayag ng dating pangulo na inako nito ang buong responsibilidad.
“If we truly stand by our principles of justice and the rule of law, then Mr. Duterte must be held accountable. He must go to jail for these EJKs (extrajudicial killings). This is not about politics; it’s about justice,” ani Acidre.
Iginiit naman ni House Assistant Majority Leader at Zambales Rep. Jay Khonghun ang kahalagahan ng naging pahayag ni Duterte.
“Duterte’s admission offers an opportunity to reaffirm our nation’s commitment to the rule of law,” sabi ni Khonghun. “This is a critical time for our institutions to show their strength by pursuing the legal accountability that so many families have waited for.”
Binigyang-diin naman ni House Assistant Majority Leader at La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega na kung walang mangyayari sa bansa ay maaaring pumasok dito ang International Criminal Court (ICC).
“If Philippine authorities do not act, the ICC could be a crucial avenue for justice,” giit ni Ortega. “We must ensure accountability for the lives lost and demonstrate that no one is above the law.” (Dindo Matining/Billy Begas)
