Gov’t on top of human rights abuses in PHL – Sen. Cayetano

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano. (Facebook photo)

MANILA – Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday expressed hope that the Senate hearings on extrajudicial killings will establish to the international community that law enforcement authorities are on top of the human rights abuses in the country.

Cayetano, a staunch ally of President Rodrigo Duterte, made this point after the hearing in which alleged members of the so-called vigilante group Davao Death Squad (DDS) were present.

“We’re hoping that these marathon hearings until Wednesday will establish that although our system is not perfect but the goal is peace and order; there are abuses, but those who abuse will be jailed and charged; there are killings but because suspects resist arrest and fight back but they are not killed just for being pushers alone,” Cayetano said.

“Again we are not saying that there are no abuses in PNP (Philippine National Police) but to accuse to President of state-sponsored extrajudicial killings is not true,” he added.

Cayetano explained that media should take note of two things: there are countries upset because there are communists in the government and there are countries upset about the Philippines being ‘friendly’ with their enemies.

He also raised the possibility that these human rights abuses were only raised to pressure the Philippines and that it was all part of “geopolitics”.

The senator meanwhile admitted that although it would be helpful if the President did temper down his foul way of speaking in speeches and press conferences, it was difficult for him to change old habits.

“He (President Duterte) talks that way because he is talks in a way drug pushers can understand him. Of course, the diplomatic community doesn’t want people to talk that way,” Cayetano said.

“I agree that some of these things can be done away with more diplomatic language. We have two audiences, foreigners and criminals. But the President’s focus is at criminals – he’s trying to relay his message that they can’t get away from misdeeds under this administration,” he added.

Asked if he trusted the credibility of Matobato after alleged DDS members testified, Cayetano said that he would rather have the public decide for themselves.

To recall, Matobato claimed in a previous Senate inquiry into extrajudicial killings that some Davao City police officers from the Heinous Crimes Division took orders from then Mayor and now President Duterte and his alleged right-hand-man, SPO3 Arthur Lascañas.

Lascañas denied the existence of the vigilante group and that he was the alleged leader. He admitted that he knew Matobato from a property deal but denied being involved in incidents in Davao City stated by Matobato including the bombing of a mosque, the killing of radio reporter Jun Pala who was a critic of President Duterte and feeding bodyguards of then mayoral candidate Prospero Nograles to crocodiles.