After two years, several individuals were in attendance during the House hearing on November 13, bearing their testimonies and experiences as families of Drug War victims. One was Mary Ann Domingo, wife to Luis Bonifacio and mother to Gabriel Bonifacio. In the short time given to her, she shared her story.
Amidst the quietness of dawn, Mary Ann and her family’s home was stormed by 15 to 20 men searching for her husband, Luis Bonifacio. These men were police on active duty executing another “War on Drugs” operation under the order of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte back in 2016.
Her husband was killed that very night, along with her son, Gabriel. They were shown no mercy by the policemen, despite pleading for their lives. After all this, Mary Ann fought for her family and continued to do so until she could bring them justice. On June 8th, she succeeded as the Caloocan City Regional Trial Court declared all four policemen guilty of homicide.
Despite that, Mary Ann deemed it only a partial victory. Despite being charged with murder, they were only found guilty of homicide, as the prosecutors concluded there was no basis for murder charges. Emotional as she was, she stated in a Rappler interview that this was proof.
“Although it’s not murder, we can say that there were killings, that officials killed poor, defenseless people with impunity. It’s a big relief for the family, but I will continue fighting,” she said, her own words translated into English.
Luis and Gabriel Bonifacio are just two of an estimated 30,000 killings in the War on Drugs Operation. A promise by the former Davaoeño president to eradicate drugs from the country. A promise he backed up with the “success” of the same operation he led in his hometown—a promise he never fulfilled.
From what can be recalled, the then-Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte gave his word that the issue of illegal drugs in the country is something he could solve within three to six months of assuming office if he were elected. What the public was unaware of was just how inhumane his ways would be.
Fast forward to the present; the upper and lower chambers are now probing deeper into the matter, inviting the now-79-year-old former chief executive more than two years after he left the post. On October 28, a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing was held, while a separate House hearing was conducted by the ‘Quad Committee’ on November 13.
A “Quad Committee” was established after finding commonalities in the issues they are investigating and held the latest hearing related to the matter of the War on Drugs. The four are committees on Dangerous Drugs, Human Rights, Public Accounts, and Public Order and Safety.
There was an earlier series of proceedings from each separate committee before it became a “quad committee” and in its 11th public hearing, the alleged main culprit is finally in attendance.
The Senate hearing also saw the following key personalities present: former Senator Atty. Leila De Lima, Atty. Chel Diokno, Former PNP Chiefs Archie Gamboa, Debold Sinas, and Vicente Danao Jr. alongside families of drug war victims such as Mrs. Christina Gonzales (Widow of Joselito Gonzales), Mr. Randy Delos Santos (Uncle to Kian Delos Santos), and as a representative, Father Flaviano Villanueva.
In the House Hearing, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV was also present in the proceedings. There was also a sighting of Vice President Sara Duterte, even though she was not invited by the committee.
The Senate hearing lasts for nine hours, while the House hearings lasts for 14 hours.
“Death Squad” exists
Admitting one of the crucial allegations in the probe, Duterte admitted during the interpellation in the Senate hearing that he indeed had a “death squad” when he was a Davao City mayor.
This established the averment of the existence of the Davao Death Squad (DDS), a vigilante group that conducted summary executions of crime suspects and other enemies.
Pertaining to a “death squad,” the former chief executive stated under oath that there were two: those police who killed in the line of duty, and a “separate death squad” made up of “gangsters” and rich individuals.
Stating that it was a “loose term,” Duterte pointed at the police officers in the senate hearing including his ally Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, that they were once part of it because they “were handling and controlling crimes in the city.”
Duterte then told everyone another “confession” that he also had a personal “death squad” composed of seven members, and it was not the police, but they were gangsters, and added that he would tell them to “kill this person, because if you do not, I will kill you now.”
“Encourage them to fight”
When asked about the Death Squad, Duterte also said that he induced suspects to fight back so that the police would have a reason to kill them.
“Ang sinabi ko ganito, prangkahan tayo, encourage the criminals to fight, encourage them to draw their guns. Iyan ang instruction ko, encourage them—lumaban, pagka lumaban, patayin ninyo para matapos na ang problema ko sa siyudad ko,” he blurted.
When asked why he gave allowance to the police, Duterte then boasted his knowledge of criminal law to justify.
“Bigyan ko sila singkwenta mil, gasolina. Pagdating mo doon, patayin mo. Bigyan mo ng panahong lumaban. Instructor ako ng criminal law, the only way na hindi kayo makulong, to justify the killing, bigyan mo ng panahon na lumaban,” he stated.
No remorse
Despite the admission, it was clear from the start that the former president was beyond proud of his inhumane acts and orders. In his opening statement in the Senate Hearing, he said that he would not offer any apologies because “he did it for the country.”
“I and I alone take full legal responsibility sa lahat ng nagawa ng mga pulis pursuant to my order, ako ang managot, at ako ang makulong, huwag ‘yung pulis na sumunod sa order ko, kawawa naman nagta-trabaho lang,” Duterte then stated that he would take full legal responsibility of the matter.
Still With Old Habits
Now a private citizen, Duterte still exercised a sense of authority in both hearings. With some members as known allies, he was able to “monopolize” the probe, speaking freely as he wanted, blurting out “jokes” and “rhetorics” to instigators, including his signature cursing habit when answering key allegations to an hour-long session.
This was then condemned by the Senate stating that it was “unacceptable.” Duterte was then forbidden in the House probe two weeks later as the House Committee told Duterte that he would not be allowed to blurt out vulgar words during the conduct of their hearing.
Duterte, however, cannot keep his cool on some occasions, especially in encounters with his staunch critics, former Senators De Lima and Trillanes IV.
He gestured to “punch” Sen. De Lima after her statements of manifestations of Duterte admitting full responsibility.
He also grabbed a microphone to throw to Sen. Trillanes, who cited bank accounts claiming that the Duterte family benefited from the drug money. The former president stated that he is willing to sign a waiver on the condition that he would slap the former senator in public in return.
The upper and lower chamber hearings have a different approach in handling “Citizen Duterte.“
If the Senate would just let the former President do what he wants, most especially because of fuming allies like Bato Dela Rosa and Robin Padilla, who keep defending their party-mate, the House would have a different approach two weeks after the earlier proceedings.
The House controlled Duterte on a “tight leash” in a 14-hour hearing by forbidding anyone to speak unless recognized, suspending the hearings when there were heated-up tensions, and was able to ask more relevant questions related to allegations.
What's Next?
House Human Rights Committee Chairperson Bienvenido Abante said that Duterte’s admissions during the October 28 hearing make him liable for crimes against humanity. He cited Republic Act No. 9581, or the Philippine Act on Crimes against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and other crimes against humanity.
Chel Diokno, a human rights lawyer, added that Duterte’s statements can be used against him in court and that “it is very damning evidence,” as the former President was under oath when he made the admissions.
Additionally, the International Criminal Court's (ICC) investigation of the Duterte administration’s War on Drugs is still ongoing. The former President even urged the ICC to investigate him during the House Quad Committee hearing last November 13 after being asked if he would cooperate with the international court.
“I am asking the ICC to hurry up, and if possible, they can come here and start the investigation tomorrow. This issue has been left hanging for many years, baka mamatay ako, hindi na nila ako imbestiga.”
President Marcos Jr. stated that the Philippine government would not offer help to the ICC but would also not block its investigation into his predecessor’s drug war.
On November 27, the 12th quad committee hearings about POGO and drug trade resumed without the former president. Rep. Dan Fernandez told the media that they won’t invite Duterte to this hearing, but he will be invited in the future as there are still some lawmakers who want to question him.
The date for the next Senate Blue Ribbon Committee and House Quad Committee public hearings is yet to be announced.
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