Former senator Leila de Lima has accused ex-President Rodrigo Duterte of orchestrating the killings during his administration’s war on drugs. “There is no doubt in my mind that former President Duterte is the mastermind, instigator, and inducer of drug war killings,” de Lima stated during a House Committee on Human Rights hearing.
De Lima, who was jailed for seven years on drug-related charges before being cleared, emphasized the need for Duterte to face prosecution. “He must be prosecuted and convicted and he should spend the rest of his life in prison,” she declared.
Duterte’s Response Pending
Efforts to get a comment from Duterte’s camp, specifically from former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea, have not yet been successful.
Committee Hearing Details
The hearing featured appearances by De Lima and former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Oscar Albayalde. Albayalde served as PNP chief from April 2018 to October 2019 and as regional director of the National Capital Region Police Office from July 2016 to April 2018.
House Committee on Human Rights Chairperson Bienvenido Abante Jr. highlighted the committee’s commitment to fairness. “Our aim has always been to ensure transparency, accountability, and protection of human rights,” Abante said, emphasizing the importance of hearing all sides to maintain the integrity of the inquiry.
ICC Investigation
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is already investigating Duterte and other officials for alleged crimes against humanity related to systematic drug war deaths. While police records cite around 6,000 deaths, human rights groups argue the number could be as high as 30,000, including vigilante killings encouraged by Duterte’s policies.
Despite Duterte’s claim that the Philippines is not under ICC jurisdiction following its withdrawal from the Rome Statute in March 2019, the ICC pre-trial chamber found a reasonable basis to probe the Philippine government for systematic killings. The ICC Appeals Chamber also rejected the Philippine government’s appeal to halt the investigation, citing insufficient evidence of legitimate domestic investigations and prosecutions.