(Eagle News)–Senator Leila de Lima has refiled a bill that seeks to define what constitute extrajudicial killings in the country, and to hold those responsible for them liable.
In filing Senate Bill No. 371, De Lima effectively refiled SB No. 1197 that remained pending in the Senate Justice and Human Rights Committee in the 17th Congress.
“In light of the thousands of deaths, the Filipino as a nation cannot negate that EJK is a clear and present phenomenon of the times boldly challenging our constitutionally-protected human right against taking of life, transgression of due process, and presumption of innocence of criminal suspects,” she said in justifying the refiling.
De Lima said the bill defines EJK as an unlawful and deliberate killing of targeted individuals or groups by agents of the State and under its order or acquiescence in lieu of arrest, investigation and prosecution.
“Extrajudicial killing includes summary killing perpetrated by private individuals for purposes of carrying out on their own or in the context of vigilantism, campaign or policy of the State,” De Lima said.
She said the bill also seeks to strengthen the intervention and investigative functions of the Commission on Human Rights, National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police in their probe of EJKs.
