Press Release
October 12, 2016

Ambush interview of Sen. Leila M. de Lima

Q: Ma'am, sa bill lang, yung sa Anti-Extrajudicial killing Bill. Why did you see the need to file it, hindi pa po ba sufficient yung nasa laws natin?

De Lima: Plano ko naman talaga, there are actually several anti-EJK bills filed already during the last Congresses and I don't know kung may nag-refile this Congress kasi wala pa tayong anti-EJK bill. Kaya yung cases ng extrajudicial cases ngayon are just treated either homicide or murder under the existing laws, particularly Revised Penal Code. So it's time na madefine talaga at mayroong separate treatment of murders or killings which fall under the category of extrajudicial killings lalo na yung mga nangyayari ngayon na mayroong mga summary executions that qualify under the definition of extrajudicial killings.

Q: Ma'am, may na-highlight, compensation for the victims. Bakit po natin naisama yung ganung aspect na yun sa bill?

De Lima: Meron namang updated law na ngayon sa compensation ng mga victims ng injustice. But ito nga, extrajudicial killing is a special category of crime, so dapat naman na meron talagang reparation for the victims.

Q: Ma'am, may provision about megaphone. Hindi ho ba parang counterproductive yun if you announce na mag-aaresto? Baka makatakas ang suspect. Yung may provision sa bill na kailangang i-announce sa megaphone if you're going to conduct arrests. Ano po yung rationale behind that? Baka maging counterproductive.

De Lima: Meron din namang advantage yung mga ganun para the certain community is put on the list. Yung mga ganyan. So meron ding disadvantage, pero naisip ko lang na ilagay din yan. Anyway, the bill is subject pa naman to deliberations by the members of the community.

Q: Reaction on the survey ratings of President Duterte...

De Lima: Generally, mataas pa, 'excellent' pa dahil nga strong leadership ang pinapakita ng Pangulo. Pero kung hihimayin niyo po yung mga specifics ng resulta, hindi ho ba may nagpapakita na mayroong substantial segments, especially Classes D and E, na nagdi-disapprove ng extrajudicial killings. Merong repugnance ngayon on extrajudicial killings.

Sa akin, isa yan sa pinaka-significant na pinapakita ng latest survey na yan. Kumbaga, bumaba pa rin from the 91 percent survey rating as of July. So bumababa na siya. There's some erosion already in the trust rating of the President. But hindi pa ganun ka-substantial.

So dapat mag-isip din sila. The Palace also has to consider that. Malaking punto po yun, yung ganun na mataas yung disapproval dun sa mga killings. You could check it out.

Q: Ma'am, si Secretary Aguirre sabi niya may jurisdiction raw ang DOJ, current jurisdiction ang DOJ on Ombudsman over complaints sa inyo?

De Lima: Hindi. Ano kasi, ang salary grade ko, ultimately, Ombudsman pa rin ang mag-aano niyan, mag-a-assume. Bakit magsasayang pa ng oras na padadaanin sa DOJ. At ano bang klaseng hustisya ang makukuha ko sa DOJ? Siya mismo ang bastonero nung mga pagpepeke ng mga ebidensiya na yan.

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