AMID THE increasing controversy over President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s drug war, some law enforcers have turned to the Catholic Church to seek help and “have expressed their desire to come out in the open about their participation in extrajudicial killings and summary executions,” according to a statement by the Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan on Monday, Oct. 2.

Meanwhile, the latest results, released on Monday, from the June 23-26 Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey indicate that three out of five Filipinos agree that only poor drug pushers are killed, while three out of four say Mr. Duterte should divulge his list of drug personalities and charge them in court.

‘SANCTUARY’
“Law enforcers have come forward confidentially to us, their spiritual leaders, to seek sanctuary, succor and protection,” Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas said in the statement published in the Web site of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). “Their consciences are troubling them,” he added.

“We will look prudently into the security of their motives and the veracity of their stories. Within the bounds of Church and civil laws, we express our willingness to grant them accommodation, shelter, and protection (including their families if necessary),” the Archbishop added.

“If such law enforcers wish to testify, then the Catholic Church will see to it they are in no way induced to speak, to disclose nor to make allegations by any member of the clergy of the hierarchy. Statement, especially in the form of affidavits and depositions, must be made with the assistance of competent independent counsel,” Archbishop Villegas said, adding that, “If their preference is to stay with us in the Church, they will not be turned over to the State under its own witness-protection program.”

He also admonished “our priests…to refrain from discussing with “asylum-seekers” the contents of their testimonies and depositions. It is furthermore recommended that volunteer lawyers, preferably those who belong to alternative law groups, assist the witness and also readily affirm that no member of the clergy instructed, directed, and couched the testimonies they give.”

“But when they so decide or opt to identify themselves and to testify, every means must be provided for a fair, accurate and unconstrained or unrestrained testimony that may be used in evidence,” the statement also read.

RICH AND POOR
The latest results of the SWS survey also found that 60% agreed (33% strongly agree, 27% somewhat agree) with the statement: “Hindi pinapatay ang mga mayayaman na drug pusher; ang mga pinapatay ay ang mahihirap lamang [Rich drug pushers are not killed; only the poor ones are killed].”

Twenty-three percent disagreed (12% somewhat disagree, 11% strongly disagree) and 17% were undecided.

The highest proportion of those who agreed that only poor drug pushers were killed came from Metro Manila, with 75% (48% strongly agree, 27% somewhat agree) agreeing.

This is followed by Mindanao with 59% agreeing (34% strongly agree, 25% somewhat agree), Balance Luzon with 58% (29% strongly agree, 30% somewhat agree, correctly rounded), and the Visayas with 53% (31% strongly agree, 22% somewhat agree).

Three out of four said Mr. Duterte should expose his list of drug personalities and charge them in court. 74% agreed (46% strongly agree, 28% somewhat agree) with the statement: “Dapat isiwalat ni Pang. Duterte ang kanyang listahan ng mga taong sangkot sa droga o ‘drug personalities’ sa publiko at sampahan ng kaso sa korte ang mga nakalista. [Pres. Duterte should expose his list of drug personalities to the public and charge those in the list in court],” while 12% disagreed (7% somewhat disagree, 5% strongly disagree) and 14% were undecided.

Meanwhile, opinions were split about the truthfulness of police claim of “nanlaban” — that the suspects killed in the anti-illegal drugs campaign really resisted arrest: 25% said the police are telling the truth, 28% said the police are not telling the truth, and the plurality of 48% were unsure whether the police are telling the truth or not.

TAXI DRIVER’S CLAIM
Meanwhile, in the Senate’s continuing inquiry into the phenomenon of extrajudicial killings (EJKs), taxi driver Tomas Bagcal presented himself for the first time before the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs.

According to Mr. Bagcal, Mr. Arnaiz and another teen, presumably 14-year-old Reynaldo de Guzman, hailed and boarded his cab in Pasig City at around 12:30 to 1:00 a.m. of Aug. 18 and asked to be taken to 5th Avenue in Caloocan City.

When they reached their destination, the older of the two announced a robbery. Mr. Arnaiz allegedly held a knife at Mr. Bagcal. But a tricycle driver who happened by managed to help him foil the robbery, and bring the suspects to a precinct in 9th Avenue, Mr. Bagcal said.

While the two were being whisked toward a cell, Mr. Bagcal said he was instructed to go to a room. This was where a certain “Raras Lakay” talked to him.

“At sinabi sa akin na itapon na lang ito sabay senyas na gigilitan ng leeg yung dalawang holdaper pero sinabi ko pa rin na itu-turnover po sir sa inyo itong dalawang holdaper,” he told the committee. (I was told that they were going to be thrown away while he made a sign that they would be killed but I told them that I was just turning them over.)

“Dahil sa takot at kaba ko sa sinabing itapon yung mga holdaper, naisip ko na puwede din akong isabay sa mga holdaper na papatayin kasama ko, mga holdaper na i-prinesent ko sa kanila. Higit sa lahat kasi, hindi nila ako ini-logbook, hindi rin nila tinanong kung anong pangalan ko, at ano ang address ko, at ganoon din yung korporasyon ng taxi ko,” he added. (I was scared because of what he told me about getting rid of the robbers. I realized that I could also be killed together with the robbers I handed over. More than that, I was not registered in their log book, nor asked my name and address and the company of the taxicab I drove.)

The suspects were eventually escorted out for a ride in a police car with Mr. Bagcal as driver. He claimed that it was only Mr. Arnaiz who was told to get out, adding that he saw the boy down on his knees with both hands raised.

Mr. Bagcal said he had no idea what happened to the other boy.

When asked to identify the policemen who killed Mr. Arnaiz, Mr. Bagcal pointed at policemen PO1 Jefrey Perez and PO1 Ricky Arquilita. But the driver mistakenly identified PO3 Arnel Oares as Mr. Lakay.

According to another witness who went by the alias Joe Daniel, he was at about the same location — C3 near a gasoline station — when he witnessed Mr. Arnaiz’s killing. But this was between 1:28 and 2:00 a.m., going by Daniel’s account, and not 4:00 a.m., as stated by Mr. Bagcal.

In his sworn affidavit, Mr. Daniel said was looking for a place to eat when he saw the police car. Fearing the he would be apprehended, he hid behind a nearby post. It was there that he saw the policemen take Mr. Arnaiz out of the car and press him against the side of the car before shooting him. But according to Mr. Daniel, Mr. Arnaiz was on his knees and his hands were cuffed.

When the senators asked Messrs. Perez and Arquilita about their alleged involvement in the killing, both of them invoked their right against self-incrimination.

The DNA analysis on Mr. De Guzman’s body also remained a subject of controversy at the Senate hearing, with Public Attorney’s Office Chief Persida V. Rueda-Acosta maintaining that the body found in Gapan, Nueva Ecija, was Mr. Guzman’s, while the police said the DNA test didn’t match with his parents.

For his part, Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV presented the affidavit of resigned policeman Vincent Masagna Tacorda of Catanduanes province, who said that in July 2016 he was “ordered” to personally “deliver an ‘accomplishment of 5 -10 deaths of drug personalities.’”

However, Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald M. dela Rosa said Mr. Tacorda had already recanted his allegations in an affidavit on June 29.

AGUIRRE, HONTIVEROS
Also on Monday’s inquiry, Justice Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre II figured in an argument with Senator Ana Theresia N. Hontiveros-Baraquel, on the heels of Mr. Aguirre’s filing criminal charges against the senator for alleged violation of Republic Act 4200 or the Anti-Wiretapping Law at the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office that morning.

At the Senate, Mr. Aquirre called on the senator to present the individual identified as a journalist who had taken the photo, saying she had been in connivance with this person.

In response, Ms Hontiveros said Mr. Aguirre was not refuting the content of the text messages. — with Mario M. Banzon, Rosemarie A. Zamora and interaksyon.com

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