The Senate hearings on the alleged extrajudicial killings started way back August 22,

20161. We still do not have definite answers up to now. So why do we need to terminate
such?
Much has been done to eradicate illegal drugs and currently, the alleged extrajudicial
killings in our country is allegedly one of those means. Apparently, although much has
been done, the problem still persists.
This is why there is a dire need to terminate the Senate hearings on the alleged
extrajudicial killings. As the clock is ticking, the people are also suffering. So much time,
effort and money as well were wasted just to address such allegation. The country could
have used the time and should not waste more time so as to focus on other persisting
problems since the issue on illegal drugs were already minimized and there is no way to
completely wipe out drugs in our country. This may be a big problem of the country but
this does not mean that we set aside all other problems. If we want change, we have to
start from the small things so the change would take effect faster and wholesome. One
concrete example is the red tape which completely overturned the correct notion of
bureaucracy and to add with the negative effects of our Filipino culture of utang na loob.
One substantial reason why these hearings should be dismissed is that there is no direct
evidence which shows that these killings are state-sponsored or are headed by President
Duterte.2 This is the finding of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights
chaired by Senator Richard Gordon, joint with the Senate Committee on Public Order and
Dangerous Drugs, chaired by Senator Panfilo Lacson. Such finding was raised during the
hearing last Dec. 13, 2012. Since up until now, no proof of state policy sanctioning the
killings with impunity is shown, then there is probable cause to dismiss the hearing. 3
As of September 15, 2016, records show a total of 986 deaths as of June 30, 2016, and
a total of 1,033 deaths since May 10,2016.4 Out of these deaths, no one ever made use
of the remedy of petitioning for a Writ of Amparo. This remedy is available to any person
whose right to life, liberty and security is violated or threatened with violation by an
unlawful actor omission of a public official, or employee, or of a private individual or entity. 5
Thus, there is need to terminate it for us to be able to focus on the real issue which is to
formulate legislations or improve procedural process in order to determine the one liable
for such killings, given that extrajudicial killings were already happening two decades ago.
It is just covered in different names such as “cardboard justice”, “motorcycle riders in
tandem”, “vigilante killings” and “salvaging” but it is plainly homicide and murder.

1 http://turbaza-chayka.ru/watch/KB_ir1XhyWg/senate-hearing-on-extrajudicial-killings-august-22-2016-
part-2.htmll (last accessed March 5, 2017)
2 (Lacson, 2012)
3 (Gordon, 2012)
4 See THE KILL LIST, PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER, Sept. 18, 2016, available at

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/794598/kill-listdrugs-duterte (last accessed Sept. 18, 2016).

5 Section 1, Rule of Writ of Amparo