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BY PRINCE GOLEZ
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Wednesday, October 4, 2017
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MANILA – The Senate is open to testimonies from anonymous witnesses to the killings of illegal drug suspects, Paolo Benigno Aquino IV said.
Two priests told senators in an inquiry into the deaths of three teenagers linked to the drug trade that several people, including some police officers, with knowledge on police involvement in the killings have approached them.
But these witnesses hesitate in disclosing information for fear of reprisal from those involved, the priests said.
“Ang pinakamainam na paraan ay mailantad ang mga kuwentong ito,” said Aquino.
“With the help of the (Senate) committee (on public order and dangerous drugs), pwede naman silang kunan ng salaysay, and there are ways na hindi malalaman ang kanilang pagkakakilanlan,” he said.
“Mas maganda kung makuha natin ang kanilang salaysay upang maimbestigahan nang maayos,” the senator added.
Before senators looking into the deaths of Kian delos Santos, Carl Arnaiz and Reynaldo de Guzman, priests Robert Reyes and Bong Sarabia said the victims’ families who have knowledge of police participation in extrajudicial killings were some of those who approached them.
Others were police officers with “first-hand knowledge” about the killings, they said.
Meanwhile, Sen. Grace Poe welcomed the willingness of some police officers to speak about their involvement in the drug killings and lauded the church for providing such officers sanctuary.
“These are positive developments we look forward to, all for the sake of serving truth and justice to the victims and their families,” Poe said.
“The statement of Bishop Soc Villegas admonishing the priests concerned to be neutral and let the cops voluntarily come up with the truthful statements on their involvements, assisted by their chosen counsel, will surely help toward these ends,” she added./PN
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