De Lima insists on inquiry into killings

Even before the scheduled probe into the alleged extrajudicial killings and summary executions gets underway later this month, Senator Leila De Lima is urging the Duterte administration to readily embrace the Senate’s inquiry and participate in the upcoming hearings.

De Lima made the call during her first privilege speech where she also defended herself against the continuing demolition job on her character.

The former Justice Secretary and Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chief reiterated the need for a congressional inquiry warning that the bloody drug war advocates are “fomenting a hate campaign against those in the civil society, the religious and private sectors and the academe.”

“If this administration is sincerely concerned about the spate of killings of suspected criminals, as it pronounced once before the media, then it should welcome this Senate inquiry,” De Lima said.

She expressed regret over earlier pronouncements by to Solicitor General Jose Calida and PNP Chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa that they would not attend any Senate inquiry on the matter.