Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. (File photo)
MANILA – House Human Rights Chair and Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. on Wednesday said former president Rodrigo Duterte and former chiefs of the Philippine National Police (PNP) will be invited in the joint hearings of the newly-formed Quad Comm.
In a press conference at the House of Representatives, Abante said Duterte and the PNP chiefs who served under his administration were invited to shed light on various issues involving extra-judicial killings (EJK), the war on drugs, and Philippine online gaming operators (POGOs).
Abante said the Quad Comm investigation is a national security concern, and that the House human rights committee had previously invited the former president to attend its inquiry "but he did not come."
“The thing is, the other committees would like to invite the former president sapagkat sya lang ang makakasagot ng mga tanong (because he is the only one who could answer questions),” he said.
He said Duterte is in a position to respond to data provided by groups like the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers, which alleges that an estimated 20,000 died in the previous administration's war on drugs, and that 16,000 were killed by vigilante forces.
Abante also said the PNP provided the Human Rights panel with data claiming that 21 drug lords, 7,000 drug pushers, and 440 drug users lost their lives in the anti-illegal drug campaign.
"Na find out din namin na may reward system; saan nanggagaling ang pera na binibigay sa mga nakakapatay na mga pulis (We found out also that there is reward system, where did the [reward] money that they are giving to policemen come from?)," he added.
Abante said the invitation would also be extended to Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa in his capacity as a former PNP chief.
"Now, it's up to him kung pupunta sya o hindi. Si Harry Roque, iimbitahin din namin sya. Lahat ng mga dating mga director generals na involved... during the war on drugs, iimbitahin natin (Now it’s up to him [Sen. Dela Rosa] if he will come or not. Harry Roque, we will also invite him. All of the former director generals involved… during the war on drugs, they’ll be invited [also])," Abante said.
Roque served as presidential spokesperson for Duterte.
Abante said aside from crafting remedial legislation to address the issues the Quad Comm would unearth, one of its goals is to prosecute those found to have violated the law. (PNA)
