By Benjamin Pulta | Philippine News Agency
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Thursday said the government will not back down from investigating any public figure named in the House Quad-Committee hearings into extrajudicial killings (EJKs), including former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Remulla made the statement shortly after meeting with officials of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), adding that the government will go where the evidence leads.
“Kahit sino pa. Alam naman natin na mahalaga na isambulat natin ang katotohanan sa taumbayan,” Remulla said.
Remulla stressed that the policy stands even if this includes Duterte.
“Basta wala tayong sinasanto. Ang mahalaga, kung meron, kung nagkasala ka sa lipunan ay pagbayaran mo. ‘Yon lang naman ’yon eh. It’s crime and punishment,” he said.
Meanwhile, CIDG Director PBGEN. Nicolas Torre III confirmed they will be working with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in investigating the allegations made at the legislative inquiry in the House of Representatives.
He underscored that the families of EJK victims have seen a glimmer of hope in the House hearings.
“Well, we understand the feelings that they have right now kasi natural lamang sa isang nabiktima, especially sa mga pamilya na naiwan, na maghanap ng hustisya, and this is the start of the wheels of justice grinding for them,” he said.
“Titingnan natin kung ano ang sasabihin—kung saang direksiyon pupunta ’yong imbestigasyon natin sa mga cold cases na ito. ’Pag may makita tayong link ng kahit sino, including the former president, then so be it, we will include them to the charges if the evidence warrants,” Torre said.
He added that uncovered evidence, including testimonies in the legislative inquiry, will determine the liability, if any, of those involved.
“Well, extrajudicial killing—that will be murders. So, ang mga enablers noon, there will be different, there are different kinds of principal accused. May mga direct participation, by inducement, or indispensable cooperation. So, titingnan na lang natin kung anong sasabihin ng ebidensiya. Doon na lang natin pipiliin kung saan sila. But there will be principally accused depending on the evidence that we gather,” Torre said.
The House Quad-Comm has been probing the alleged EJKs that supposedly transpired during the Duterte administration’s drug war.
Retired police colonel and former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Royina Garma revealed in the hearings that Duterte approved of EJKs of drug suspects.