Former Justice Secretary De Lima was one of the President’s fiercest critics.
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De Lima as a former human rights commissioner had also investigated Duterte when he was Davao City mayor for his links to the Davao Death Squad, allegedly responsible for the vigilante killings of suspected criminals in Davao City. More than 3,000 drug suspects have died since June in the crackdown. “The Senate is showing greater interest in covering up allegations of state-sanctioned murder than in exposing them”.
As expected, Senate President Pro-Tempore Franklin Drilon and Senators Risa Hontiveros, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV came in defense of De Lima, saying the motion was without basis while Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto opted to vote abstention.
Sixteen of those present voted in favor of Mr. Gordon, a comebacking lawyer-senator who is also chairman of the Blue-Ribbon Committee.
The group called on senators opposed to Duterte’s tough tactics to seek de Lima’s reinstatement.
The hearing on the extrajudicial killings will still continue and Sen. She has denied the allegations, but the president’s allies in the House of Representatives are to launch an inquiry Tuesday.
Sen. Manny Pacquiao then moved for the chairmanship to be declared vacant, leading to a majority vote of 16-4. Sen.
In a statement, Gordon said the Senate is totally polarized and it was placed in a very hard situation after another senator (obviously referring to de Lima) was displaced from the said committee.
Colangco would testify that he sold drugs in Bilibid upon orders of kidnap-for-ransom convict Jaybee Sebastian to raise funds for De Lima’s senatorial bid, Aguirre said.
Duterte said in a speech late Monday that threats to investigate him locally or by global organizations like the United Nations over possible human rights violations would not stop him from proceeding with the drug crackdown. “Certainly the pressure is so big but I will make sure that the necessary consultation will be consider”, Gordon said.
Stay on topic – This helps keep the thread focused on the discussion at hand.
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Be Civil – It’s OK to have a difference in opinion but there’s no need to be a jerk.
