Sen. Trillanes hits Gordon for terminating EJK probe

In a statement sent to media, Trillanes said that Gordon could not even prove what he “did not attempt to investigate in the first place.” (Photo: Trillanes’ Facebook page)

MANILA—Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Friday slammed Senator Richard Gordon for terminating on Thursday the Senate inquiries into the alleged extrajudicial killings.

In a statement sent to media, Trillanes said that Gordon could not even prove what he “did not attempt to investigate in the first place.” There have been six hearings on extrajudicial killings.

“He can go on a monologue again to try to justify his actions but he won’t be able to convince the people who witnessed what transpired during the hearings,” Trillanes said.

“Eventually, the truth would come out and when that day comes, Sen. Gordon would be remembered as one of those who tried to cover it up,” he added.

The Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, chaired by Gordon, on Thursday terminated the inquiry into extrajudicial killings and instead tackled a measure on death penalty for heinous crimes.

This, after Gordon took offense a recent statement said by one of the officials of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Commissioner Roberto Eugenio Cadiz.

To recall, Cadiz earlier slammed the Senate for suspending the supposed three-day inquiry last Oct. 3 after a heated exchange among senators, a walkout of one of them and a fuss over a missing witness ensued.

Cadiz called Gordon a coward for suspending the hearing simply after witness and self-confessed Davao Death Squad Edgar Matobato left the Senate premises due to security purposes.

The Commissioner was upset that the hearing was suspended noting that there were more than 10 witnesses yet to be presented.

On Wednesday (Oct. 12), Gordon said that the Senate inquiry into extrajudicial killings would push through without the witnesses presented by the CHR.

Gordon said that the CHR that should apologize and should castigate Cadiz.

However, Gordon on Thursday decided to scrap the inquiry altogether and instead tackle the death penalty bill. He said that the panel would release a committee report on extrajudicial killings on Monday (Oct. 17).