Senator Risa Hontiveros. INQUIRER PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES
Sen. Risa Hontiveros did not mince words when she linked the abduction and murder of Korean trader Jee Ick-joo to the Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs that has claimed nearly 7,000 lives.
During the Senate probe on alleged “tokhang for ransom” cases, Hontiveros said the killing of Jee in October last year may be a “consequence” of the aggressive style of the government’s antinarcotics campaign.
Hontiveros called on the PNP chief to suspend the war on drugs until the police ranks had been cleared of rogue cops. Jee was abducted from his Pampanga home last Oct. 18 under the guise of an antidrug police operation
“Para kasing itong pagkamatay ni Mr. Jee at 7,000 plus na pagkamatay ng ating mga kababayan ay nagiging matinding consequence ng war on drugs,” Hontiveros said, addressing Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Dir. Gen. Ronald dela Rosa. “Hindi ba’t panahon na, habang hindi pa nalilinisan ang hanay, tigilan na muna ang war on drugs.”
(It’s as if the killing of Mr. Jee and of the 7,000 plus Filipinos is a severe consequence of the war on drugs. Isn’t it time that while we are cleaning up the ranks that we stop the war on drugs.)
“Dahil napaka-aggressive ng ating estilo, lalong napagsasamantalahan at naaabuso ng mga tauhan natin sa PNP na masama ang ugali at walang pagtingin sa internal discipline,” Hontiveros added.
