House panel to probe drug EJKs; Rody not invited

The House of Representatives' committee on human rights is set to start next week its investigation on alleged extrajudicial killings related to the war on illegal drugs during the time of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

- DELON PORCALLA

Neither Duterte nor his chief Oplan Tokhang enforcer, Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, however, will be invited to the hearings.

Panel chairman Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante said their first hearing will be on May 22, where a diverse group of participants, such as relatives of drug war victims, and police officers will be invited.

Members of the Cabinet of the previous administration will also be called to shed light on issues.

"First, we must begin with the principle that each life is valuable and that each life lost is a profound tragedy," Abante told reporters in a news briefing yesterday.

"Second, we must point out that those who lost their lives are protected by the rights granted by the Constitution, one of which is due process." He added that the investigation aims to "seek the truth" and gather "comprehensive information" on the alleged widespread human rights violations linked to the drug war, with the ultimate goal of developing legislation to strengthen human rights in the country.