Rep. Abante: House QuadCom to continue drug war probe during recess

The four House joint committees looking into the alleged extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration's war on illegal drugs will continue probing the matter during recess, Manila 6th district Representative Benny Abante said Monday.

In a statement, Abante said the House QuadCom will continue the legislative inquiry after they found the alleged involvement of a syndicate and police generals in the illicit drug trade.

"Palagay ko mahaba-haba pa. We would like to finish that kasi malapit na ang filing [ng certificates of candidacy] 'di ba?” the legislator said.

(I think we still have a long way to go, but we would like to finish that because the filing of certificates of candidacy is approaching, right?)

“You know ‘pag nag-file ka parang campaign period na ‘yan so talagang sabi ko nga e we have to be in our own district para mag barangay na kami pero still we really have to finish this job," he said.

(You know, once you file, it's like the campaign period has already started, so I always say we have to be in our own district to focus on the barangay, but still, we really have to finish this job.)

Over the weekend, the QuadCom said it is planning to invite former president Rodrigo Duterte once again to the legislative inquiry after after former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Mabilog said his name was included in the narcolist because he did not support Duterte during the 2016 elections.

Mabilog also alleged that then-PNP chief, now Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa summoned him to Camp Crame, an action that could place his life in danger.

“Ang next hearing will be this week, ang pag-uusapan naman EJK. Maganda ito sapagkat ito ‘yung binabanggit ninyo tungkol kay Jed Mabilog, eh we are going to invite him again," Abante said.

(The next hearing will be this week, and we'll be discussing EJK. This is good because it's related to what you've been saying about Jed Mabilog, so we're going to invite him again.)

Camilo Cascolan

Meanwhile, the lawmaker identified the late Camilo Cascolan as the Philippine National Police (PNP) general who advised Mabilog not to go to Camp Crame.

“Ang nakakalungkot dun eh dahil hindi na namin pwede ipatawag dahil pumanaw na siya. ‘Yun ang isang bagay na nakakalungkot talaga," said Abante.

(What's really sad about that is that we can't invite him anymore because he's already passed away. That's one thing that's truly heartbreaking.)

According to human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, more than 20,000 people were killed in the drug war, based on the 2017 year-end accomplishment report of the Duterte administration. Authorities have said only about 6,000 died in police anti-drug operations. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News