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MANILA – The Senate committee on justice and human rights yesterday decided to discard the investigation into extrajudicial killings (EJKs) and instead discuss a measure seeking death penalty for heinous crimes.
Committee chair Richard Gordon has taken offense at a statement made by Commission on Human Rights (CHR) commissioner Roberto Eugenio Cadiz.
On Wednesday, Gordon said the Senate inquiry into the killings would push through without the CHR’s witnesses. The senator said the commission should apologize and castigate Cadiz.
But yesterday Gordon decided to scrap the inquiry altogether and discuss the death penalty bill instead. He said the committee would release a report on the inquiry into the killings on Oct. 17.
Cadiz criticized the Senate for suspending the supposed three-day inquiry on Oct. 3 after a heated exchange among senators, a walkout of one of them and a fuss over a missing witness ensued.
The commissioner called Gordon a “coward” for postponing the hearing simply after witness and self-confessed Davao Death Squad member Edgar Matobato left the Senate premises.
Cadiz was upset, noting that there were more than 10 witnesses yet to be presented.
Yesterday, former committee chair Leila de Lima moved to allow Gascon to make a statement and explain side of the CHR and to put the discussion on death penalty aside. But Gordon overruled her motions.
CHR chairman Chito Gascon confirmed he called Gordon to clarify the misunderstanding but maintained that he would not apologize on behalf of the commission.
“How can we say sorry for something we did not say? The relationship of the commissioners to each other is akin to the relationship of the senators to each other,” said Gascon. “Each senator is free to take their position, and that’s the same with the [CHR] unless the commission as a body takes a position and adopts a resolution.”
Gascon said Cadiz’s statements were made in the latter’s “personal capacity” and not brought to the commission en banc for discussion. “It is not for the commission to disown something it did not do.” (PNA)
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