Rizal Philippines
August 22, 2016
From Pinoy Network
The Senate committee on Justice led by Sen Leila de Lima was held yesterday. Many saw the hearing as a grudge fight by de Lima vs Duterte who made expose on her alleged lover and his connection with NBP drug lord.
It was Sen Peter Alan Cayetano who took the cudgels for Chief Bato de la Rosa, who pointed out that there were more EJ under the time of PNoy (average of 34 per day) vs 20 now. Why is PNP being investigated for fighting crimes. Also there were 706 reported killed in encounter with the police against about 1,000 for vigilante killing.
Sen Alan Peter Cayetano, that EJ killings are those defined under AO 35 promulgated by then Sec. Leila de Lima
and under this the victims who are members of the following when killed are to be classified as EJ or ELK:
a. The victim was:
i. a member of, or affiliated with an organization, to include political, environmental, agrarian, labor, or similar causes; or
ii. an advocate of above-named causes; or
iii. a media practitioner or
iv. person(s) apparently mistaken or identified to be so.
b. The victim was targeted and killed because of the actual or perceived membership, advocacy, or profession;
c. The person/s responsible for the killing is a state agent or non-state agent;
d. The method and circumstances of attack reveal a deliberate intent to kill;
For purposes of the focused mandate of AO No . 35, killings related to common criminals and/or the perpetration of their crimes shall be addressed by other appropriate, mechanisms within the justice system.
Under this AO killings of drug related encounters are not EJ under the purview of this AO
Sen Cayetano questions the timing of the probe and the motive: Are they meant to embarrass the police and discredit them
