Risa: Senate yet to schedule next drug war probe

The Senate has yet to schedule the next probe on the Philippines' war on drugs, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros on Thursday.

“Wala pa pong petsa na naitakda pero fina-follow up ko po at umaasa po ako na makapagtakda ng susunod na hearing,” Hontiveros said during Kapihan sa Senado.

(There’s no date yet but I am following it up. I am hopeful that they are going to schedule the next hearing.)

“Kung kakayanin sana, ngayong buwan para mabigyang daan ng isa pang kung huli man na hearing sa susunod na buwan ng Disyembre,” Hontiveros added.

(If possible, we should do it within this month, or within the month of December.)

Hontiveros said the drug war victims deserve no less than the Senate going after the perpetrators of injustice.

“Anim na taon po nangyari yan at sabi nga on the ground, hindi pa talaga ito tumitigil. Mas tahimik lang dahil di umano mas kaunti. But as long at it involves extrajudicial killings case on war on drugs, even one [killed] is too many,” she added.

(This drug war went on for six years and reports on the ground show that it is not yet over. It could be argued that it was just tempered with fewer killings.)

In addition, Hontiveros said she is looking forward to another face-off between former President Duterte and former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, who had heated moments during the House QuadComm hearing on alleged exrtajudicial killings during the Duterte administration.

Duterte was irked when Trillanes tagged the Duterte family as a criminal family while accusing the former President and his family of enriching themselves with drug money.

“I am looking forward na makadalo si dating Senador Sonny Trillanes. I am not looking forward na dadalo yung isang tao diyan, pero mabuti siguro kung dadalo siya ulit dahil siya po talaga yung front and center nitong war on drugs and extrajudicial killings,” Hontiveros said, apparently referring to Duterte.

[I am looking forward that former Senator Sonny Trillanes can attend (the hearing). I am not looking forward that one person will attend, but it would be better if he can attend again because he is the front and center of the war on drugs and extrajudicial killings.]

When the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee first conducted its drug war probe in October, Duterte admitted having a death squad for criminal suspects, and that he is taking full, legal responsibility for his anti-drug campaign.

But when Hontiveros asked him further if he takes responsibility over the police killings of unarmed teenagers, Duterte snapped and said guilt is personal to the person who committed the crime. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News