Philippine MPs replace head of drug killings inquiry

By Hader Glang

ZAMBOANGA CITY, the Philippines

Philippine senators have voted out the head of a committee on justice investigating alleged extrajudicial killings under President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody campaign against illegal drugs.

Senator Leila de Lima -- a staunch critic of the drive who served as secretary of justice under Duterte’s predecessor -- accused the president of having played a role in her ouster Monday.

According to the Philippines national police, nearly 3,000 drug-related killings have been reported since Duterte assumed office June 30.

Of the 3,000 deaths, 1,490 are under investigation as of Sept. 10 with authorities blaming suspected vigilante groups.

GMA News reported that Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao launched the motion to declare the committee’s chairmanship and the membership vacant Monday following a privilege speech by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano. Both Pacquiao and Cayetano are regarded close allies of Duterte.

Only four senators voted against the move, compared to 16 in favor while two abstained. Senator Richard Gordon was elected as her replacement.

De Lima later said she suspected the president had been angered after she presented during a hearing Thursday a self-proclaimed former member of a militia, who accused Duterte of having ordered the killing of suspected criminals during his 22 years as mayor of southern Davao City.

“They [Duterte and senators] talked about it [the ouster],” GMA quoted her as saying. “They planned it. It was a done deal.”

Duterte, however, insisted that he would stay out of matters involving the Senate.

"I do not intervene, dwell into matters not part of my territory," Rappler.com reported him saying in Davao City.

In 2015, Amnesty International alleged that “death squads” under Duterte's control were responsible for 700 extrajudicial executions in the region.

Duterte is reported to have responded that it was more like 1,700.

De Lima -- who has been extremely vocal in criticizing Duterte’s controversial war on illegal drugs -- has been accused, meanwhile, of collecting money from drug personalities through an alleged lover to support her senatorial bid in last May elections.