Family and relatives join the inurnment rites of victims of extrajudicial killings linked to the drug war of former President Rodrigo Duterte at the Dambana ng Paghilom in La Loma Cemetery in Caloocan City on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA -- Former President Rodrigo Duterte and his former police chief, Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, will be informed by the House Committee on Human Rights of the schedule of its next hearing into the alleged extrajudicial killings under the past administration's war on drugs.

According to Committee Chairperson and Manila 6th District Representative Bienvenido Abante Jr., it is up to Duterte and dela Rosa if they will attend.

"Dapat 'yung former PNP chief, si Ronald dela Rosa ay maimbitahan. Tingin natin Mr. Chair, timely din na si former President Rodrigo Duterte ay imbitahan din natin bilang siya din naman ay hindi incumbent official, isang civilian," Kabataan Party List Representative Raoul Manuel said on Wednesday.

"Kung may mga dapat din siyang sagutin sa iba pang issue, sa other committees, kahit dito rin naman, siya talaga 'yong primary reference," he added.

"What I can promise, Congressman Manuel, is that we will be informing again Senator dela Rosa on the next hearing, and if he would like to attend, sabihin na natin doon na if you would like to come, you are welcome," Abante said in response.

"We are also going to inform, para sa ikagagalak ni Congressman Manuel, we're going to inform the former president on this hearing.  Okay? 'Pag na-inform siya, eh nasa kanya na 'yon kung pupunta siya o hindi.  But I would like to give full respect to the former president.  Although he might not be exempt from this investigation, I think we should give full respect to the former President being a public official also," he added.

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-- HOPE IN ICC PROBE -- 

Families of victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) receive the cremated remains of their loved ones during the 12th "Daluyan Ng Paghilom" at the Sacred Heart Parish Shrine, in Quezon City on May 25, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

During the committee hearing on Wednesday, the families of the victims of alleged extra judicial killings under the Duterte administration's drug war appealed to the House Committee on Human Rights on Wednesday to help them get justice. 

They also expressed support for the investigation of the International Criminal Court into the matter.

Christine Pascual said their efforts to hold those in authority accountable for the death of her 17-year-old son, who was killed in an anti-drug operation in 2018, had failed. 

"Sa Supreme Court… Lord, kako, sana kahit man lang dito bigyan mo kami ng pagkakataon. Hirap na hirap na rin kami kung paano lumaban. Pagdating doon, dismissed na naman. Paano kami hindi hihingi ng tulong sa ICC?" Pascual told the panel.

"Ang masaklap pa, pinatay na, pinaratangan pa ng kung anu-ano. May drugs, nanlaban," she added.

Jane Lee and Dahlia Cuartero also said that it was difficult to get witnesses on the death of their loved ones.

"Inosente ang mga mahal namin sa buhay… Pero nabiktima sila ng polisiya ni Duterte na war on drugs. Walang nanagot ni isa man sa sa mga pumatay, lalo na ang utak ng patayang ito. Walang hustisya," said Lee. "Nawa'y sa pamamagitan ng hearing na ito, magbunga ito ng masusing imbestigasyon at mabigyan kami at ang iba pang mga kaanak ng hustisya.

"Narinig ko na hindi makikipag-cooperate ang committee na ito sa ICC investigation. Sige lang po. Pero nais ko sabihin na kaming mga pamiya, doon kami nakasandig pa rin at nabubuhayan ng pag-asa sa ICC o international investigation," she added.

"May kumpyansa kaming hindi nila sasantuhin ang dating presidente. Hindi sila matatakot na imbestigahan ang nakaupong senador. Ang pananagutan para sa patayan ay hindi dapat nakatuon lang sa kung sino ang mga bumaril, kundi doon sa mga nag-utos."

Cuartero, for her part, said: "Sana rin po sa pamamagitan ng hearing na ito ay masuportahan ang ICC na panagutin si Duterte. Naniniwala akong makakatulong ang ICC para makamit ang hustisya para sa anak ko."

Abante stressed that the panel's investigation is independent from the ICC probe, but also assured the victims' relatives that they will listen to their concerns and come  up with recommendations.

"'Wag niyong babanggitin ang ICC dito, sapagkat wala kaming pakialam sa ICC at hindi namin namin hahayaan na pakialaman kami ng ICC. We are a sovereign country. Hindi ko isusuko ang pagka-soberano ng House na ito sa ICC," said Abante.

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-- PUBLIC TESTIMONIES -- 

Santa Rosa City Representative Dan Fernandez, for his part, said that testimonies made in the hearing are considered "public" and that the Philippine government can use the minutes of the hearing if it decides to cooperate with the ICC. He also assured relatives that the panel is ready to help them.

ABANG LINGKOD Party List Representative Joseph Stephen Paduano said it is up to the ICC to request for a copy of the House committee report from the government office or agency where the recommendations will be sent to.

Over 20,000 people were allegedly killed in the war on drugs within the first two years of Duterte's term, according to Free Legal Assistance Group's Atty. Chel Diokno, who cited the 2017 year-end accomplishment report of the Office of the President. Of this figure, nearly 4,000 were reportedly killed in police operations, while over 16,000 were killed by riding in tandem and unknown suspects.

But former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea questioned these figures, telling the panel: "Nagulat ako mayroong 20,000. Saan galing itong 20,000 na ito? Any Tom, Dick and Harry can just say 15,000 ang pinatay, 20,000 ang pinatay… I don't think I've seen that report."

Abante urged the family of victims to appear and give their testimony before the House panel. He also called on Diokno and the National Union of People's Lawyers to convince victims' kins to file a class suit.

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