Groups call for Duterte's imprisonment
Members of Bayan Muna staged a protest in front of the House of Representatives today, October 11, coinciding with the hearing on the extrajudicial killings under the regime of former President Rodrigo Duterte. Along with the families of the victims of the “war on drugs,” they called for justice and accountability for Duterte and others involved in the mass killings.
Today, the “Quad Committee” of Congress is holding its 8th hearing on the extrajudicial killings committed by the Duterte regime. Family members of the victims from Cebu City and Barangay Batasan Hills, Quezon City were invited to deliver their testimonies. They were accompanied by prominent human rights lawyers Atty. Neri Colmenares and Atty. Krissy Conti of Bayan Muna.
Previous Quad Committee hearings revealed new evidence of extrajudicial killings including the testimony of Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza, a police officer who admitted to being involved in the killing of Wesley Barayuga, a former official of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
The police officer testified he was ordered by current Napolcom Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo to kill Barayuga, who was accused of being involved in the illegal sale of drugs. He claimed that former PCSO general manager and former Cebu PNP chief Royina Garma paid Leonardo ₱300,000 for the “job.”
Another new testimony that emerged was the alleged order of Duterte to inmate Leopoldo Tan to kill three Chinese nationals in August 2016.