The Department of Justice (DOJ) stated their plans to start a preliminary investigation on the killings of high-profile individuals during Ex-President Duterte’s drug war.
An inquiry provided to the department includes the killings of Chinese drug lords. According to testimonies from inmates, Duterte allegedly ordered the killing of Chinese nationals inside a Davao prison in 2016.
Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez told reporters that the DOJ would initiate the investigation once Congress submits its committee report or if a formal complaint is filed.
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“Here, it could be the police or private complainants. There must be an initiatory process,” he said.
In another hearing, Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza claimed that then-Col. Edilberto Leonardo had ordered him to carry the hit on Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Board Secretary Wesley Barayuga.
He also recounted that Leonardo claimed the operation was ordered by Royina Garma, Duterte’s trusted aide.
Garma also told the House committee in a separate inquiry that Tanauan Mayor Antonio Halili was taken out by a team comprised of police officers, who are allegedly acting under Duterte’s orders. She added that it was time to speak the truth “after considerable reflection.”
“He needed someone capable of implementing the war on drugs on a national scale, replicating the Davao model,” Garma said.
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Following Garma’s allegations, PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil on Sunday urged former police heads to clarify their roles during the drug war.
“We take these allegations very seriously. We will thoroughly investigate Garma’s claims to ensure accountability and transparency within our ranks,” Marbil said.
The police chief emphasized the need for his predecessors to speak out. He highlights the importance of rebuilding public trust in the PNP. Marbil also vowed to add measures to prevent similar abuses in future operations.
In related news, House Assistant Majority Leaders Jefferson Khonghun and Francisco Paolo Ortega V on Sunday said they believed the news provided to the DOJ was just the tip of the iceberg.
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