Vice President Jejomar Binay addresses the crowd during United Nationalist Alliance proclamation rally in Mandaluyong on Tuesday. The 90-day campaign period for the May 2016 election officially started Tuesday, with candidates organizing their respective campaign sorties around the country.(MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – Vice President Jejomar Binay on Thursday vowed to form an independent commission that will look into the alleged summary killings and human rights abuses in Davao City and the possible involvement in them of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
“Kapag ako ang naging pangulo, bilang manananggol, nasisiguro ko na maparusahan ang Davao Death Squad, kasama na si Mister Duterte na ilang beses nang umamin na siya ang Davao Death Squad,” he said in a press statement, referring to the alleged vigilante group in Davao City being linked to Duterte.
“Panahon na para panagutin sa Diyos at sa batas na umiiral sa Pilipinas ang DDS, kasama si Duterte,” he added.
Duterte, who has ruled Davao City for over 20 years, has emerged as a top contender in the presidential race based on latest surveys. He has denied links with the Davao Death Squad, although he had admitted to killing criminals.
Binay said since he respects the law, he will give Duterte and the alleged Davao Death Squad chance to defend themselves. “Bibigyan natin si Mister Duterte at ang kanyang death squad ng pagkakataong magpaliwanag sa batas, na hindi nila ibinigay sa kanilang biktima.”
He said the commission will be composed of former Supreme Court justices, human rights groups, National Press Club, and Commission on Human Rights.
“May kapangyarihan itong gamitin ang mga ahensya ng gobyerno para mag-imbestiga, at ang NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) ang siyang lead investigating agency,” Binay said.
Media killings in Davao City?
In his statement, Binay also linked Duterte and the Davao Death Squad to the killing of several journalists in Davao City.
“Sinasabi nilang kriminal lamang ang pinapatay nila, pero kriminal din ba ang mga journalist na kilalang kritiko ni Duterte na pinatay ng DDS? Sila Jun Pala, Ferdie Lintuan at Rene Galope ay mga journalist sa Davao na nagsiwalat ng mga katiwalian at maling pamamahala ni Duterte. Pinatay sila ng DDS,” he said.
“Sa mata ni Duterte ang mga journalist – na tinawag nyang “mga maiingay st madadaldal” – ay kriminal na dapat patayin. Ganito bang presidente ang gusto natin?” Binay added.
A separate press statement from Binay’s camp said Pala, a broadcaster, was killed in September 2003 while Galope, who was critical of Dutere’s management style, was killed in November 2004.
It added that Lintuan was ambushed and shot dead on Christmas eve in 2007, after exposing the alleged misuse of public funds in the construction of the Davao Peoples’ Park.
Koko’s ‘silence’ questioned
Meanwhile, Binay spokesperson and lawyer Rico Quicho scored the alleged silence of Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on the human rights issues hounding Duterte, saying the senator is “duping the Filipino people.”
“Senator Pimentel in several interviews admitted that their resource persons in the Senate demolition failed to provide evidence to support their claims against the Vice President. Notwithstanding the dearth of clear and convincing evidence against the Vice President, Sen. Pimentel continued his political persecution of the Vice President,” Quicho said.
“On the other hand, he is sheepishly quiet on the issue of the extra-judicial killings and human rights violation of his political patron who vowed to continue his killing spree that is worse than the killing fields of the Pol Pot regime,” he added.
Pimentel is the president of PDP-Laban, which is fielding Duterte in the May 2016 presidential race. He said Wednesday that if ever Duterte wins as president, Binay, who is bieng linked to several anomalous projects in Makati, is likely to be the first “big fish” to be jailed because of corruption.
Quicho reiterated that Binay is ready to face his accusers in court where he is confident he will be exonerated. (MNS)