Former Bayan Muna Representative Atty. Carlos Zarate announced their readiness to assist those filing cases against former President Rodrigo Duterte, Senators Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, and other officials involved in the Duterte administration’s drug war killings.
This follows the House Quad Committee’s recommendation to file cases under Republic Act 9851, or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity.
In an interview with Bombo Radyo Bacolod, Zarate explained that the House QuadCom Hearing’s primary purpose is “in aid of legislation,” aiding in creating or amending laws.
Secondly, it serves as an “oversight function,” where they can recommend filing cases if they find legal violations.
The recommended cases involve thousands of victims of drug war killings and alleged drug lords killed inside the Davao penal colony.
These complaints should be investigated by the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation, incorporating documents and statements gathered by the House of Representatives as evidence for court cases.
Zarate explained that if thousands were killed without proven guilt and denied due process, Duterte and his associates would undergo due process to provide justice for the victims.
Cases related to the Duterte administration could also be filed with the International Criminal Court, while extrajudicial killings continuing after 2019 could be filed in local courts.
Zarate questioned why Duterte’s camp released a statement claiming the QuadComm’s recommendation was politically motivated, despite Duterte initially challenging them to file cases.