FORMER President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s admissions of the existence of his own “death squad” and his encouragement of policemen to provoke suspects into fighting back to justify killing them are grounds for the executive branch and the Commission on Human Rights to build a case against him, a former president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines said on Saturday.
Domingo Cayosa, former IBP president, said that the former President Duterte’s statements during the senate hearing on Monday are clear admissions, inspite of his allies brushing these off as jokes. Congressional hearings, said Cayosa, are meant to be in aid of legislation.
Former President Duterte made his first appearance Monday before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on extra judicial killings and alleged human rights violations during his term of office.
Cayosa said that the police, NBI, CHR, and DOJ must all help in building a case against former President Duterte. The CHR, an independent constitutional commission, does not have the power to prosecute cases. It can only document cases and recommend charges. He said these agencies must take the initiative and not wait for lawmakers to make their next move.
“Kasi malinaw na ang pag-amin niya,” said Cayosa,who served at the IBP from 2019 to 2021.