MATAPOS ang pag-ako ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa responsibilidad sa kanyang war on drugs, nanawagan ang isang lider ng Kamara de Representantes na dapat itong managot sa crimes against humanity.

Ayon kay House quad comm co-chair Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr., sa ilalim ng Republic Act (RA) 9851 o ang Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity, pasok si Duterte sa elemento ng command responsibility para sa crimes against humanity.

“When a leader knowingly permits the slaughter of civilians under his watch, and when he admits that he bears responsibility, it is an inescapable truth: he is criminally liable,” giit ni Abante.

Sa kanyang pagharap sa Senate Blue Ribbon committee noong Lunes, inako ni Duterte ang legal na pananagutan sa mga ginawa ng mga pulis kaugnay ng kanyang war on drugs kung saan tinatayang 12,000 hanggang 30,000 Pilipino ang nasawi.

“This is not a case of semantics or vague responsibility—this is a direct admission from the former president himself. By publicly taking full responsibility for the thousands of extrajudicial killings that plagued our nation during his term, Duterte has admitted to a level of command responsibility that the law considers criminal,” punto pa ni Abante, chairman ng House committee on human rights.

Sa ilalim ng Section 10 ng RA 9851 ay nakasaad ang prinsipyo ng command responsibility kung saan pinapanagot ang opisyal sa mga nagawa ng kanyang mga tauhan.

Sinabi ni Abante na pasok din ang mga naging pagpatay kaugnay ng drug war sa crime against humanity batay sa RA 9851.

“First, it involved the willful killings that affected thousands of civilians. Second, the victims were primarily civilians, suspected by police authorities to be involved in drug-related activities. Third, these killings occurred in a widespread, systematic attack across various cities, municipalities, and provinces throughout the Philippines. And fourth, these killings were executed under a State or organizational policy, namely, the anti-drug campaign of the former president, which included a national system of rewards within the police hierarchy,” sabi ng solon.

Sinabi ni Abante na magagamit din ng International Criminal Court (ICC) ang mga naging pahayag ni Duterte sa pagdinig ng Senado, kung saan nanumpa ito na magsasabi ng totoo.

“We have taken one step closer to holding Duterte accountable, but this is not the end. I urge our justice system to respond swiftly, to file charges, to conduct investigations, and to ensure that justice is served. The blood of thousands cries out for justice, and we owe it to every Filipino to answer that call,” saad ng mambabatas.

“Today, Duterte stands alone as the commander of this campaign of carnage. Let this be a warning to any leader who thinks they can wield power with impunity: the law will catch up with you, and justice will prevail,” dagdag pa nito.