Senator Risa Hontiveros has proposed that the entire Senate come together to investigate former President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial war on drugs. Instead of letting the investigation be handled by Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who led the drug war as head of the police, Hontiveros suggests forming a special committee called the “Senate Committee of the Whole.”
This committee would allow all senators to equally participate and, she believes, would encourage victims and survivors of the drug war to come forward and share their stories. Hontiveros said hearing from these people is crucial to uncovering the full truth about what really happened.
The war on drugs, launched during Duterte’s presidency, has been criticized for the deaths of thousands of suspects. While official records list 6,200 deaths, human rights groups estimate the number could be as high as 30,000.
Senator Imee Marcos, however, believes that instead of another Senate inquiry, the cases should be taken directly to court to speed up justice. She’s worried the Senate could be seen as acting in a self-serving way if it investigates itself.
Meanwhile, Senator Dela Rosa has announced he will start his own investigation, and former President Duterte could be called as a witness. Duterte’s ally, Senator Bong Go, also denies allegations that a reward system was in place for killing drug suspects during the campaign.
With different senators voicing their opinions, this issue remains a hot topic, and the future of the investigation is still uncertain.
