STATEMENT OF AKBAYAN SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS
GCTA PUBLIC HEARING
Blue Ribbon and Justice and Human Rights Committees
October 01, 2019

Actually, meron sana akong mga tanong sa "Hospital Pass for Sale" scam at "Hospital Stay-cation" scam pero hindi ko na lang tatanungin. At kaya rin ako bumalik sa hearing ay as a PNP widow and one of the member of the classes represented around this table, and actually as I can see from you Mr. Chair, ang sakit sakit pakinggan ng hearing na ito.

Ang sakit talaga. My husband was a mistah of several of the officers and gentlemen around this table, "Sinagtala" PMA Class of 1986, and alam ko na there are a lot of reform-minded members of the PNP, and some of them are seating around this table.

Sobra ko pong ginagalang yung ambag ni Mayor Benjamin Magalong sa pagdinig natin, Mr. Chair. I have respected him even since the time na pinamunuan nila yung PNP investigation on Mamasapano, I think one the shining moments of the PNP in recent years.

Kaya masakit pakinggan yung hearing natin ngayon, kasi I think it is an embarrassment of due process for the PNP. Dapat lang may due process tayo para sa lahat, including our men and women in the PNP. Pero hanggang ngayon, isa ako with you Mr. Chair, na hindi pa rin mainitindihan why it took so long to implement a decision na PNP na mismo ang nagbuo at based on PNP processes.

Kung sana may katiting ng embarrassment of due process na yan na ibinigay natin sa gobyerno, doon sa tens of thousands na napatay sa war on drugs, hindi tayo aabot sa ganito. Sana pinantay natin yung due process para sa lahat, kahit sa mga suspect at napatay sa war on drugs. It has been proven that the "War on Drugs" o yung solusyon natin sa problematic drug use ay palpak talaga na mismong tayo sa gobyerno, naging bahagi na ng problema.

Ako Mr. Chair, I really believe walang gobyerno - not the current administration, not the future administrations - na pwedeng magtagumpay na walang professional, modernized at successful na national police. Ganoon din, walang estado na magtatagumpay na walang good, professional at modernized armed forces.

And I know yan ang isang pangarap ng ating chair, ng ating Blue Ribbon Committee, that we get through this terrible period and learn the lessons. Yan ang i-eenforce ng Blue Ribbon Committee. Let's survive this terrible, painful period na lahat siguro hindi lang yung members ng "long gray line", hindi lang yung members and officers and ladies of the PNP, pati yung mga pamilya ng PNP, we want to see this happen, no matter how difficult it is.

Siguro Mr. Chair, kung magkakaroon pa ng next hearing, then I will just ask the questions I wanted to ask tungkol doon sa "Hospital Pass for Sale" scam. Pero hindi lang ako makaalis, that's why I came back, just to say this: Napaka-sakit, that's why let us make it worth it - not just for the PNP, but for the whole country.