ONE NATION UNDER GOD: Int'l court may probe drug-related killings

WATCH: Duterte is 'Ampatuan of Davao City,' 'Pablo Escobar of PH' – Trillanes.

<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7iNvAhZCXWo?feature=player_embedded" width="640"></iframe><br />
<div class="caption" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #737372; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<b style="color: #4c4c4c; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px;"><i>Based on the allegations of a hired gun, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV likens the President to an alleged murderer and a drug cartel leader</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjfaYHkEFmFPP31Y0YQ_3LgD4fdg6JQJ6UQRqHe79H3mCP9uLPAPyvfDb2agGbpvJ74NKVcNGzyg18xgfqwHwq3Arftj5MYDJIgKYVzcs7aHH2N5669mbnEwYHPPicZYnSjhdgsY0Q1AI/s1600/as.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjfaYHkEFmFPP31Y0YQ_3LgD4fdg6JQJ6UQRqHe79H3mCP9uLPAPyvfDb2agGbpvJ74NKVcNGzyg18xgfqwHwq3Arftj5MYDJIgKYVzcs7aHH2N5669mbnEwYHPPicZYnSjhdgsY0Q1AI/s640/as.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="caption" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #737372; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="line-height: 1.5;"><b><i>STRONGMEN? Senator Antonio Trillanes IV likens President Rodrigo Duterte to the late Andal Ampatuan Sr, alleged mastermind of the Maguindanao massacre, and Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar. Escobar photo by Wikipedia, Ampatuan photo by EPA</i></b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
MANILA, Philippines – One of the fiercest critics of President Rodrigo Duterte has likened him to an alleged murderer and a drug cartel leader, after hearing an alleged hired gun testify on murders supposedly ordered by Duterte when he was a mayor.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;">Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Thursday, September 15, compared Duterte to the </span>late Andal Ampatuan Sr, the alleged mastermind of the 2009 election-related massacre, and <span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;">Colombian drug cartel leader Pablo Escobar.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
Edgar Matobato, a self-confessed hitman of the Davao Death Squad, testified during the 3rd hearing on the extrajudicial killings under the Duterte administration. (READ: Senators face off at probe into killings: 'Trash talk, out of order')</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">"Precisely, based on the testimony, the impression that I got [ay] ito 'yung Ampatuan of Davao City, 'yung ganung culture of impunity na kahit sino na lang makursunadahan, 'yun na ang papatayin,"</em> Trillanes told reporters.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
(Precisely, based on the testimony, the impression that I got is he is the Ampatuan of Davao City, with the culture of impunity that anyone they want to kill, they would just kill.)</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
He added: "<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">'Yun ang 'pinupunto ko. Sinabi ko rin 'yan na Pablo Escobar of the Philippines. Ganyan din 'yung mga methods na ginagawa nila for anybody who would go against them, cross them."</em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
(That's what I'm talking about. I also said that he is the Pablo Escobar of the Philippines. Those are the same methods they employed on anybody who would go against them, cross them.)</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
Ampatuan Sr, along with his son, Andal "Unsay" Ampatuan Jr, is the principal accused in the massacre of 58 individuals in Sityo Masalay, Ampatuan, Maguindanao in November 2009. The attack was aimed at thwarting the gubernatorial bid of rival Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu in the May 2010 polls.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
Some of the bullet-riddled bodies were strewn on the open field when police arrived. More had been buried on the same day, along with several of the vehicles.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
Escobar, meanwhile, was the Colombian drug lord who built an empire dealing cocaine. He was known for ordering the deaths of thousands of people like "politicians, judges, journalists, and rival traffickers."</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">"Nakita 'nyo naman, makanti lang ng batikos, he will go ballistic. I don't know how he will react to this, babantayan natin 'yan,"</em>Trillanes said.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
(You see how he is: when he gets criticized, he goes ballistic. I don't know how he will react to this. We will closely watch this.)</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
Matobato accused Duterte of having ordered the killings of perceived enemies and critics in Davao City.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said the testimony was a diversionary tactic of Senator Leila de Lima, who will be the subject of a congressional investigation into the proliferation of illegal drugs in the national penitentiary when she was the justice secretary.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
Matobato also accused first son and Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte of being a drug user, smuggler, and protector of some Chinese drug lords.The young Duterte said he would not dignify with an answer the statements of a "madman."</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
SOURCE: <a href="http://www.rappler.com/nation/146351-trillanes-duterte-ampatuan-pablo-escobar" target="_blank">RAPPLER</a></div>

WATCH: Duterte is 'Ampatuan of Davao City,' 'Pablo Escobar of PH' – Trillanes.

Based on the allegations of a hired gun, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV likens the President to an alleged murderer and a drug cartel leade...

READ: De Lima: Expect more witnesses to drug-related killings.

7:59:00 AM TodaysUpdatePH 0

<span style="background-color: white; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px;"><b><i>At least 9 witnesses are expected to testify on 8 cases, involving 11 victims, when the justice committee chaired by Senator Leila de Lima resumes hearings on September 15</i></b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6a7ub1AclSOZ0MfMJuFCzFAw5UOy0XKy9h1TAOwqcuc48QwIr3W3uPIX6kH0gd8JrSc8-gOASp0fSJRTYp7rA1Z9ggH-7Qoy6muNcP2OImQ3HsvHTSYpSccZulg9nuutScEI2fBPG9k/s1600/EJK-Senate-Hearing-20160822-005_99DFB870368D4FBB88B9F598F6A5F865.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6a7ub1AclSOZ0MfMJuFCzFAw5UOy0XKy9h1TAOwqcuc48QwIr3W3uPIX6kH0gd8JrSc8-gOASp0fSJRTYp7rA1Z9ggH-7Qoy6muNcP2OImQ3HsvHTSYpSccZulg9nuutScEI2fBPG9k/s640/EJK-Senate-Hearing-20160822-005_99DFB870368D4FBB88B9F598F6A5F865.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="caption" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #737372; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<b><i>HEARINGS RESUME. Senator Leila de Lima, chairperson of the Senate committee on justice and human rights, says more witnesses have been called to testify on representative cases of drug-related extrajudicial killings on September 15, 2016. Photo from the August 22 hearing by LeAnne Jazul/Rappler</i></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;">MANILA, Philippines – Senator Leila de Lima, who chairs the committee on justice and human rights said more witnesses will be presented when the hearing on drug-related killings resumes on Thursday morning, September 15.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;">“After 3 weeks since the committee started its inquiry, we have yet to hear the testimonies of other witnesses who can provide not only the clearer and broader picture behind these killings but also any loopholes in enforcing our laws,” De Lima said in a statement on Wednesday.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;">The committee conducted hearings on August 22 and 23, and agreed to the request of Senator Alan Cayetano to suspend the investigation until after the ASEAN Summit in Laos, so as not to embarass President Rodrigo Duterte</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;">The senator said the justice committee, jointly with the committee on public order and dangerous drugs, will “present more witnesses” as they continue to look into “representative cases” of extrajudicial killings and summary executions that have been on the rise since the Duterte administration started its all-out campaign against illegal drugs.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;">At least 9 witnesses are expected to testify on 8 cases, where 11 victims are involved, De Lima said.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;">“We have also invited other resource persons from the government sector, civil society groups and human rights advocates, as well as from the media. We hope to get their views and insights on this issue,” she added.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px; text-align: center;">
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; margin-top: 50px;">Stories from the August 22 and 23 hearings:</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><a href="http://todaysupdateph.blogspot.com/2016/09/read-lacson-contradicts-de-lima-on-need.html" target="_blank">Lacson contradicts De Lima on need for Senate probe</a><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><a href="http://todaysupdateph.blogspot.com/2016/09/watch-drilon-asks-bato-in-disbelief-137.html" target="_blank">Drilon asks Bato in disbelief: 137 deaths in just a day?</a><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><a href="http://todaysupdateph.blogspot.com/2016/09/read-intl-court-may-probe-drug-related.html" target="_blank">Int'l court may probe drug-related killings in PH – CHR</a><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><a href="http://todaysupdateph.blogspot.com/2016/09/look-dela-rosa-to-senate-we-are-not.html" target="_blank">Dela Rosa to Senate: We are not butchers</a><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><a href="http://todaysupdateph.blogspot.com/2016/09/look-cayetano-biased-de-lima-should.html" target="_blank">Cayetano: 'Biased' De Lima should inhibit from Senate probe</a></span></em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;">The senator – criticized by no less than President Duterte for her alleged links to the drug trade – emphasized once more that her investigation is not meant to derail police operations.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;">“The Senate inquiry presumes at all times the regularity of police operations. We are here to find ways to help law enforcement agencies fulfill their mandate more efficiently through legislative action” and “without violating any human rights or disregarding the due process of the law,” she said.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;">Also called to testify are the heads and representatives of the following:</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;"></span></div>
<ul style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 12.5px; margin-top: 0px;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;">Philippine National Police</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;">Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;">Department of the Interior and Local Government,</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;">National Bureau of Investigation</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;">Commission on Human Rights</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;">Philippine Human Rights Information Center</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;">Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;">Karapatan</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;">Free Legal Assistance Group</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;">Philippine Institute of Human Rights</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;">Ateneo Human Rights Centers</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;">Private media organizations</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px;">SOURCE: <a href="http://www.rappler.com/nation/146250-more-witnesses-senate-hearing-drug-killings" target="_blank">RAPPLER</a></span></span></div>

READ: De Lima: Expect more witnesses to drug-related killings.

'Biased' De Lima should inhibit from Senate probe Drilon asks Bato in disbelief Expect more witnesses. Int'l court may probe drug-related killings Lacson contradics De Lima We are not butchers READ: De Lima: Expect more witnesses to drug-related killings.

At least 9 witnesses are expected to testify on 8 cases, involving 11 victims, when the justice committee chaired by Senator Leila de Lima r...

LOOK: Cayetano: 'Biased' De Lima should inhibit from Senate probe.

7:56:00 AM TodaysUpdatePH 0

<span style="background-color: white; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px;"><b><i>Senator Leila De Lima rejects the call: 'Why should I? I'm not going to base that on the opinion of someone who has evidently been the defender and the apologist of the President in the Senate'</i></b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfBTbkq4jxRPGR21VTY0_fZuatNWAPxFyNpwjRtHNaVr4rn1HtOlofmgrUKBr0i1vOD3M2IHtWwOP9dC_ZjbHtjXGFReMCh63t0MNHmwbo4BYODeebjror_cHpSaSsKP6-et4C5ZaLpMQ/s1600/cayetano-de-lima-20160824_63032140FC0841368DC4D4BE22C6B17E.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfBTbkq4jxRPGR21VTY0_fZuatNWAPxFyNpwjRtHNaVr4rn1HtOlofmgrUKBr0i1vOD3M2IHtWwOP9dC_ZjbHtjXGFReMCh63t0MNHmwbo4BYODeebjror_cHpSaSsKP6-et4C5ZaLpMQ/s640/cayetano-de-lima-20160824_63032140FC0841368DC4D4BE22C6B17E.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="caption" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #737372; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<b><i>INHIBIT. Senator Alan Peter Cayetano wants Senator Leila De Lima to inhibit from her own probe into the extrajudicial killings but the neophyte lawmaker refuses to do so. Photos by LeAnne Jazul/Rappler</i></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.5;">MANILA, Philippines – Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, President Rodrigo Duterte’s staunchest ally in the Senate, comes to the rescue again, as he asked Senator Leila De Lima to inhibit from her own probe into extrajudicial killings under the Duterte administration.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“</em>I am thinking of drafting a letter asking Senator De Lima to inhibit herself from the hearing<em style="box-sizing: border-box;"> kasi may prejudgment na siya </em>(because she already has prejudgment).<em style="box-sizing: border-box;"> Makikita mo sa kanya lahat ng pinatay summary killing na o extrajudicial killing na </em>(You will see that all those killed are already summary killings or extrajudicial killings),” Cayetano said on Wednesday, August 24, adding he would send the letter not later than Monday,</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
Cayetano called out De Lima for being “biased” in her conduct of the Senate inquiry.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Ang question ko nga 24 senators tayo, why not allow someone who is less polluted, less biased to do the investigation? Ang sinasabi ko naman hindi dapat ang chairman biased,”</em> he told reporters.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
(My question is: We are 24 senators why not allow someone who is less polluted, less biased to do the investigation? What I'm saying is the chairman should not be biased.)</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
De Lima is the chairperson of the Senate committee on justice and human rights, which is leading the investigation into the spate of drug-related killings in the country. She also filed the resolution that prompted the inquiry.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
“You can inhibit anytime, I just want to bring it to her attention that she has two options – <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">maging fair sa hearing or mag-inhibit </em>(be fair in the hearings or inhibit)<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">,</em>” he said.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
Cayetano also accused De Lima and Commission on Human Rights Chairman Jose Luis Martin Gascon of “destroying” the country’s image in the international community, with their loose usage of the term "extrajudicial killings." </div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Imbis na tumutulong si Senator De Lima at Chairman Gascon sa image ng bansa, sila ang sumisira sa image ng ating bansa. Kasama sa paglilinis ng pulis ng ating Pangulo ang ikulong ang pulis na 'di sumusunod sa batas,”</em> he claimed.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
(Instead of Senator De Lima and Chairman Gascon helping the country's image, they are destroying it. The President's cleansing of the police ranks include jailing those who violate the law.)</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
Cayetano said De Lima and Gascon are making it appear that the deaths are “state-sponsored” – which he strongly denied.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
“It’s different between naming it a murder/homicide from naming it summary killing and extrajudicial killing. What's the difference? The difference is, <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">abroad 'di ba sini-stir up 'yung community to make it appear that guilty of international crime ang Pangulo</em> (The difference is the international community is being stirred up to make it appear that the President is guilty of an international crime),” he added.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
Duterte, as early as the 2016 campaign period, said his anti-drug campaign would be “bloody.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 700; margin-top: 50px;">De Lima: 'Why should I?'</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
De Lima, however, remained unfazed and said she’d rather that the people judge her objectivity in the conduct of the hearing.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
“Why should I? I’m not going to base that on the opinion of someone who has evidently been the defender and the apologist of the President in the Senate,” De Lima told reporters.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
She denied being biased, as she maintained the Senate probe is not a legal court but only a fact-finding investigation.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
“This is not a court of law. This is a fact-finding inquiry. So what bias is he talking about? I'm just trying to determine facts through witnesses," she said.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
De Lima said between the two of them, the one who is clearly biased is Cayetano.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Sino ba biased sa amin? Siya nga very biased in favor of the administration and extrajudicial killings from day one of the hearing. And besides, klarado naman 'yan. He's a lawyer. He knows that, that inhibition is addressed to the personal discretion of the person being sought to inhibit,” </em>she said.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
(Who's biased between the two of us? He's the one very biased in favor of the administration and extrajudicial killings from day one of the hearing. Besides, it's clear. He's a lawyer. He knows that, that inhibition is addressed to the personal discretion of the person being sought to inhibit.)</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4c4c4c; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-top: 8px;">
SOURCE: <a href="http://www.rappler.com/nation/144067-alan-cayetano-de-lima-inhibit-senate-probe" target="_blank">RAPPLER</a></div>