Former Rep. Neri Colmenares of Bayan Muna (Photo from the Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)
MANILA, Philippines — Bayan Muna Chairperson Neri Colmenares has maintained that a congressional investigation of the alleged extrajudicial killings (EJKs) in the past administration’s drug war is still important, even with reports that the International Criminal Court (ICC) will issue arrest warrants soon.
Colmenares, a former lawmaker, said on Friday that investigations like the one that will be conducted by several committees are important as the hearings can strengthen cases against alleged masterminds of EJKs.
The committees were tasked by the House of Representatives to check on the possible correlation between illegal activities within the Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogo) hubs, the illicit drug trade, and the alleged human rights violations in the drug war.
“Mahalaga na ituloy pa din ang mga investigations ng Congress like the quad-comm on the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) at Pogos dahil makakatulong ito sa pagpapatibay ng kaso laban sa mga masterminds and perpetrators ng EJKs,” Colmenares explained.
(The congressional investigations must continue, such as the quad committee hearings on EJKs and Pogos, as these will help strengthen the case against the masterminds and perpetrators of EJKs.)
“The pursuit of justice for the victims of EJKs must not rely solely on international mechanisms. Our own legislative bodies have the responsibility to uncover the truth and hold accountable those responsible for these heinous acts,” he said.
“We call on lawmakers to prioritize these investigations and ensure that they proceed without interference or delay,” Colmenares asked legislators.
READ: Carpio: ICC warrant may be out by September
The committees are slated to hold their first round of discussions on the different issues this Friday at an off-site hearing in Bacolor, Pampanga.
According to House committee on dangerous drugs chairperson and Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, the hearing is being brought to Pampanga as many issues started in the province.
For example, the Barbers’ panel probed a controlled delivery operation where illegal drugs were traced from the Port of Subic to a warehouse in Mexico, Pampanga.
READ: P3.6-B worth of shabu seized in Pampanga warehouse
Eventually, the lawmakers discovered that the warehouse was under the company Empire 999 Realty Corporation, controlled by a certain Willie Ong, who Barbers and other panel members believe, is a Chinese illegally acquiring land in Pampanga.
READ: Owner of warehouse storing drugs used fake identity, says Barbers
The House committee on public order and safety, which is chaired by Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez, meanwhile covered issues revolving around a Pogo hub in Porac — one of the two gaming sites in Central Luzon which was raided for human trafficking allegations.
In the June 4 Porac Pogo hub raid, 186 foreign and Filipino workers were taken into custody from the establishments.
In Bamban, Tarlac, authorities were able to discover 371 Filipinos and 497 foreigners working for the gaming site.
Fernandez said the proximity of people involved in the drug bust and Pogo was also a factor.
READ: House quad-committee hearing to start in Pampanga
Aside from Barbers and Fernandez’s panels, the committee on human rights and the committee on public accounts form part of the multiple panels conducting joint hearings.