DOJ won't back down if EJK evidence points to Duterte

MANILA – Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Thursday said the government will not back down from investigating any public figure named in the Quad committee (Quadcom) hearings into extrajudicial killings (EJKs), including former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Remulla made the statement shortly after meeting with officials of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), adding that the government will go where the evidence leads.

"Kahit sino pa. Alam naman natin na mahalaga na isambulat natin ang katotohanan sa taumbayan (Whoever they may be. It is important for the truth to be known)," Remulla said.

Remulla stressed that the policy stands even if this included Duterte.

"Basta wala tayong sinasanto. Ang mahalaga, kung meron, kung nagkasala ka sa lipunan ay pagbayaran mo. 'Yun lang naman yun eh (There will be no sacred cows. What's important is you will have to pay for your sins to society. That's it). It's crime and punishment," he said.

Meanwhile, CIDG Director Brig. General Nicolas Torre III confirmed they will be working with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in investigating the allegations made at the legislative inquiry in the House of Representatives.

He underscored that the families of EJK victims have seen a glimmer of hope in the House hearings.

"Well, we understand the feelings that they have right now kasi natural lamang sa isang nabiktima, especially sa mga pamilya na naiwan, na maghanap ng hustisya (it's only natural for the families of the victims to seek justice), and this is the start of the wheels of justice grinding for them," he said.

"Titignan natin kung ano ang sasabihin – kung saang direksyon pupunta yung imbestigasyon natin sa mga cold cases na ito. Pag may makita tayong link ng kahit sino (We will see what will be said – in what direction the investigation on the cold cases will go. If we see any link to whoever), including the former president, then so be it, we will include them to the charges if the evidence warrants," Torre said.

He added that uncovered evidence, including testimonies in the legislative inquiry, will determine the liability, if any, of those involved.

"Well extrajudicial killings, that will be murders. So, ang mga enablers noon (the enablers), there will be different, there are different kinds of principal accused. May mga (There are) direct participation, by inducement, or indispensable cooperation. So, titignan na lang natin kung anong sasabihin ng ebidensya. Doon na lang natin pipiliin kung saan sila (we'll just see what the evidence says, then we'll choose in what category they are). But there will be principally accused depending on the evidence that we gather," Torre said.

The House Quadcom has been probing the alleged extrajudicial killings that supposedly transpired during the Duterte administration's drug war.

Retired police colonel and former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office chief Royina Garma revealed in the hearings that Duterte approved of extrajudicial killings of drug suspects. (PNA)