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🚨 Rep. LUISTRO DARES TO ASK THE UNASKABLE🚨
Congresswoman Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro, unshaken and fearless, confronts former President Duterte in a gripping interpellation, seeking clarity and accountability for the war on drugs and its chilling legacy.
Emphasizing his promise to take full legal responsibility, Luistro probes: What happened to the bodies buried in Laud Quarry? To the victims of the Davao Death Squad? To the lives lost in the 2004 Dumoy raid?
Former President Duterte fires back, asking, "Where is your proof?"
Luistro responds:
"Mr. President, I’m anchoring my questions about these separate incidents from your initial statement—that you are taking full legal responsibility for all the victims of the war on drugs, both legal and illegal. You are a long-time prosecutor, and of course, it is fundamental among us all lawyers to uphold the requirements of due process."
Duterte counters with: "We are zeroing in on a particular individual now."
Luistro powerfully reminds:
"Mr. President, due process is the law that hears before it condemns. Due process is the law that requires notice and hearing."
The former president’s short rebuttal, "If you say so," leaves the air thick with tension.
Luistro quips back with another gripping reminder:
"Mister President, I hope that we will be reminded that by due process, THE END DOES NOT JUSTIFY THE MEANS."
Congresswoman Luistro proceeds to present statistics on the war on drugs:
- 6,252 individuals killed in police anti-drug operations as of May 2022.
- 27,000 to 30,000 individuals killed, including vigilante-style executions.
- 427 activists, human rights defenders, and grassroots leaders killed as of December 2021.
- 166 land and environmental defenders killed as of December 2020.
- 23 journalists and media workers killed as of April 2022.
- 66 judges, lawyers, and prosecutors killed as of December 2021.
- 28 mayors and vice mayors killed as of December 2021.
Cong. Luistro then delivers the crucial question:
"Mr. President, my question is: When you implemented the war on drugs, did you strictly comply with the requirements of due process?"
With a firm and unwavering tone, former President Duterte responds, "YES."
She continues, pointing out:
"It is my humble submission that, contrary to the answer of the former president, I humbly believe that the war on drugs never complied with the requirements of due process. The statistics show the huge number of victims of the war on drugs. If my memory serves me right, during the Aquino administration, there were around 200 victims, and during the present administration, there are around 200 victims as well. Given these statistics, there are almost or around 31,000 victims. If indeed they followed the requirements of due process, there should not have been this many deaths. Instead, there should have been many cases pending in court. I hope that all of us are reminded by the fundamental law that no person should be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.
It is the humble submission of this representation that the Quad Comm is ready to make a recommendation for the filing of the necessary actions in court for violations of RA 9851—an act defining and penalizing crimes against international humanitarian law—or, at the very least, for murder cases as defined under the Revised Penal Code."
The Interpellation Intensifies
To conclude her interpellation, she delivers a series of no-holds-barred questions:
Luistro:
"Mr. President, three Chinese drug lords were killed at the Davao Penal Colony. Are you willing to take accountability and responsibility for this?"
Duterte:
"Wala ako sa Davao, nandito na ako sa Manila."
Luistro:
"Are you saying no?"
Duterte:
"If gusto mong isali yan, idagdag mo, ok lang."
Luistro:
"How about the death of General (Ret.) Barayuga? Are you willing to take full legal responsibility for this?"
Duterte:
"No, I do not kill generals."
Luistro:
"The death of Mayor Parojinog and the 15 others in Ozamiz City. Are you taking full responsibility for this?"
Duterte:
"Hindi ako nagpapatay ng mga mayor, ma’am."
Luistro:
"The death of Mayor Espinosa of Albuera, Leyte. Are you taking full responsibility for this?"
Duterte:
"That is my birthplace."
Luistro:
"The death of Mayor Toni Halili of Tanauan City?"
Duterte:
"Malayo yan sa akin, ma’am."
Luistro:
"The death of Mayor Perez of Los Baños?"
Duterte:
"Lalo na."
A Riveting Ending
Luistro fires back:
"If you are denying all these, alin po yung tinutukoy niyo when you said you are taking full responsibility for all the victims of the war on drugs, both legal and illegal?"
The former president mumbles in response:
"Yes, kasi order ko kasi yung, that is my campaign against drugs. Alam mo maraming estasyon, maraming police. Kung nagkaleche-leche doon, hindi ako maghuhugas ng kamay. Of course, nagkamali sila. If there is an appropriate action na gusto niyong ilabas, then file a case in court. I’m challenging anybody or everybody who makes the accusation, whether it is really true or not—maybe true—file the case in court, because may korte tayo. Even if I admit na totoo yan, because I will make the admission there again."
Luistro counters:
"Are you saying, Mr. President, when you go to court, you are willing to admit accountability for all the deaths during the war on drugs?"
Duterte replies:
"Of course, may abogado ako, ma’am. Kung ano ang sasabihin ng abogado ko, susunod ako."
Luistro presses further:
"I hope that everything you said before the Quad can be reduced in writing so that truly we can believe that you are taking full legal responsibility for all the victims of the war on drugs, both legal and illegal. Because as lawyers, we believe that by extrajudicial confession, we have to put that in writing, Mr. President."
Duterte responds:
"...It’s a policy of government or the president. Hindi ako maghuhugas ng kamay..."
The Final Question
Luistro asks:
"If one of these days the ICC will come, will you voluntarily submit yourself?"
Duterte retorts:
"Sipain ko pa sila, ma’am."
Luistro reminds him:
"But you said a while ago, that if somebody will sponsor your fare to the ICC, you will voluntarily submit yourself to their investigation and jurisdiction."
Duterte replies:
"Yes, pero kung sila pumunta dito, sipain ko."
Luistro clarifies:
"But will you confirm that you are willing to voluntarily submit yourself to the ICC?"
Duterte firmly states:
"Oo, punta ako doon, sipain ko din sila."
A Gripping Conclusion
Luistro ends her interpellation with grace and precision:
"I have nothing further. Thank you, Mr. President."
In this powerful exchange, Congresswoman Luistro demonstrates fearless leadership and unwavering commitment to truth and accountability, leaving no question unanswered in her pursuit of justice.
#LargaLuistro2025
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