Rampant Extrajudicial Killings Questioned by Drilon as there are 137 Deaths a Day

24 Aug Rampant Extrajudicial Killings Questioned by Drilon as there are 137 Deaths a Day

On August 23, Tuesday, the second Senate hearing took place about the rampant extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration. Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa said, “Sigurado meron pang madadagdag bukas, your honor.”

The data of killings since July 1 when the current administration took over urge Senate President Pro-Tempore Franklin Drilon to ask Dela Rosa. As he speak, “Sa kabuuan po 1,779 ang namatay kahapon, ngayon po 1,916. Ang ibig po bang sabihin sa nakalipas na 24 hours, 137 ang namatay?”

On Monday, the PNP stated during the first hearing that there are 712 drug-related deaths as police operations started and 1,067 deaths are still under investigations. However, on the following day, there were an increasing number of deaths, 756 deaths as a result of police operations and 1,160 killings that are under investigation.

Dela Rosa explained the added killings as Monday hearing commenced, “Nag-a-update po kami. May bago pong discovery. Mas ma-alarm po kayo, your honor, kung pinababa po namin – ‘yung patay kahapon ngayon buhay or baliktad po, ‘yung buhay po kahapon ngayon namatay. So nadagdagan po because of aggressive police operations.”

Drilon was taken aback with Dela Rosa’s feedback and asked again, “So the 712 total deaths reported yesterday [due to police operations] were still not enough?”

Dela Rosa answered, “Kulang ‘yon, your honor. While I was presenting, merong namamatay so nadadagdagan po ngayon.”

Drilon asked again in utter disbelief, “Bukas po pwede madagdagan ulit?”

“Sigurado, your honor, meron madadagdag bukas,” Dela Rosa instantly replied.

At this point, Drilon cannot handle his emotions and sarcastically asked the chairperson of the Senate committee on justice, Senator Leila De Lima “Siguro, Madame chairman, ‘wag na tayo mag-hearing baka nadadagdagan ang namatay every time we’re here.”

PNP Chief Dela Rosa did not respond to Drilon’s comment.

The next senator who would ask questions was Senator Joel Villanueva and he assured Dela Rosa that he supports their actions. As he spoke, “Minsan nakakapikon minsan gumagawa ka ng tama may mga isa o dalawang balita na naghahamper sa inyong ma-accomplish.”