The House of Representatives Committee on Human Rights has decided to invite former President Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to attend its next hearing on the alleged extrajudicial killings (EJK) linked to the previous administration’s drug war.
The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, June 26.
During the third hearing on Tuesday, committee chair Manila third district Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. suggested inviting Duterte and Dela Rosa to listen to the testimonies of the victims’ families.
“We have informed the former president of this hearing so he knows,” Abante said.
“For the fourth hearing, I will be inviting Sen. Bato dela Rosa and the former president to come and listen to your testimony,” he added.
The decision came after a discussion where Abante asked National Union of People’s Lawyers-National Capital Region secretary general Kristina Conti and Rubilyn Litao from Rise Up for Life and for Rights about their belief in the former president’s responsibility for the killings.
“We believe that because of former President Duterte’s policy of war on drugs, many murders have occurred,” Litao said in Filipino.
Conti and Litao have been assisting hundreds of families of EJK victims, some of whom were present during the hearing to share their harrowing experiences.
Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas made a motion to invite Duterte and Dela Rosa, which was seconded by ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro. The motion was approved without objections.
The inquiry aims to address the alleged human rights violations during Duterte’s drug war, which has been widely condemned.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline House panel invites Duterte, Bato to hearing on drug-related EJKs
