Duterte may not be solely to blame on drug war killings – Barbers

Metro Manila, Philippines — Former President Rodrigo Duterte may not be solely to blame for the drug war killings, a lawmaker said.

Surigao del Norte Rep. Ace Barbers, who is leading the House quad committee inquiry on supposed extrajudicial killings (EJK), said he has supported Duterte’s anti-drug campaign except for the abuses that came with it.

Barbers said the abuses were committed by some police officers.

'Yan ang kino-condemn ko 'yung abuso na nangyari kung saan humantong sa pagpatay. Hindi ko naman sinabi na si dating pangulo ang gumawa niyan,” he told NewsWatch Plus on Tuesday, Oct. 15.

[Translation: That is what I condemn, the abuses that led to the killings. I did not say that it was the former president who did that.]

“Ilan libong umabusong 'yan? Lahat ba ‘yan may kinalaman ang dating pangulo? Hindi siguro. 'Yan po ay pag-aabuso ng ibang opisyal ng ating Philippine National Police (PNP). At marami diyan ay na-discover natin ng mga ninja cops. Marami diyan ang na-discover natin ay mga scalawags,” he added.

[Translation: How many committed the abuse? Are all of those related to the former president? I don’t think so. Those were abuses by some officials of the Philippine National Police. We discovered that many of them were ‘ninja’ cops and scalawags.]

In a quad committee hearing, PCol Royina Garma (ret.) said Duterte wanted to replicate the Davao model of drug war on a national scale, in which killing a drug suspect is rewarded.

Duterte’s allies denied the allegation.

The PNP, meanwhile, said it is gathering statements from Duterte’s national police chiefs for an investigation on Garma’s claim.

The Interior Department said it will not protect anyone from the police force who will be proven guilty.

NewsWatch Plus correspondent Daniza Fernandez contributed to this report.