Lagman to Duterte: Probe extrajudicial slays, not the Ombudsman

 Instead of creating a commission to investigate the Ombudsman, President Rodrigo Duterte should probe the "unabated extrajudicial killings" related to his controversial war on drugs, Albay Representative Edcel Lagman said on Saturday.

Lagman said any investigation, more so one done out of "vindictiveness," would jeopardize the independence of the Office of the Ombudsman.

"The constitutionally-guaranteed independence of the Office of the Ombudsman will be imperiled by any investigation, much more a partisan inquiry, exerting interference and pressure on the Ombudsman," Lagman said in the statement.

"The purported investigation of the Ombudsman is perceived as vindictiveness and reprisal against the Ombudsman for authorizing an inquiry into the supposed unexplained wealth of the President and his family," the statement further read.

Duterte on Thursday threatened to create a commission that would investigate the Office of the Ombudsman for alleged partiality and corruption, in reaction to Overall Deputy Ombudsman Arthur Carandang's announcement they would start a probe into the first family's bank accounts.

For her part, Davao City Mayor and presidential daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio had already welcomed the probe on her family's wealth. Sara's husband, Atty. Manases "Mans" Carpio, is a nephew of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.

Lagman said creating a commission to look into summary killings of drug suspects would "secure justice for the victims of human rights violations."

He then recommended that the proposed commission be composed of retired justices, who will have the authority to perform the following functions:

    Conduct an investigation on the causes, motives, and rewards for the extrajudicial killings.
    Find out the total number of victims of summary killings both by the police authorities and vigilante groups since the start of the anti-drug campaign in 2016.
    Determine the alleged collusion between the police authorities and vigilantes
    Inquire on how many of the victims belong to the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized sectors.
    Establish how many of the killings are subject to current investigations by the police authorities and other government agencies.
    Recommend the prosecution of errant police officers and personnel and private parties.
    Recommend viable policies and alternatives to solve the drug problem as poverty and health issues other than a mere police matter.

Lagman said his proposed body would be similar to the ones set up by former presidents during their terms to investigate pressing issues of the time.

Such commissions include the Agrava Commission, which former president Ferdinand Marcos formed to investigate the assassination of former senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino; former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's Feliciano Commission, which looked into the Oakwood mutineers' grievances against her, and the Melo Commission, which probed extrajudicial killings during Arroyo's term.

Lagman has already previously suggested the formation of a commission that would probe drug-related killings. During that time in August, he issued the proposal on account of the death of 17-year-old Kian Loyd Delos Santos at the hands of Caloocan police.

Lagman is a member of the "Magnificent 7," an opposition group at the House of Representatives.

The "Magnificent 7" is also composed of Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin, Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, Northern Samar Rep. Raul Daza, Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr., Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice and Capiz Rep. Emmanuel Billones.