“Insofar as state-sponsored killings, I don’t believe it,” Gordon told reporters in an interview shortly after he terminated the Senate probe on drug-related killings in his capacity as chairman of the committee.
“No, I don’t think it’s Duterte-inspired. The President is inspired to kill drugs because he really means to eradicate drugs but I don’t think he’s gonna push anybody to say and kill,” he added.
“Wala akong nakukuhang order galing sa kanya and even from Bato na nagpapatay siya ng tao,” the senator further said, referring to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
Gordon, in the interview, said despite the killings, the investigation conducted in six hearings proves that the “rule of law” still exists.
“May rule of law sa ating bayan. It’s not perfect but you can see that the branches of government are working so even if the President talks a lot about many things… there is a rule of law,” he said.
Gordon said the Senate should also craft a law specifying that policemen alleged to be involved in extrajudicial killings be suspended within three days.
“The policemen will now be conscious, may pressure na magawa yung resulta ng imbestigasyon,” he said.
With regards to confessed hitman Edgar Matobato, Gordon said he will discuss with the members of the committee if they will recommend perjury charges against him for supposedly lying before the panel.
Matobato was presented by Senator Leila de Lima as a witness in the killings in Davao City during Duterte’s term there as mayor.
“For all you know, guilty or not si President Duterte — there was an effort and there obviously was an antecedent na noong araw pa magkagalit sila. Nung nasa CHR siya (De Lima), tinutugis niya si Presidente. Ngayong presidente na si Duterte, mukhang siya naman ang tinutugis,” Gordon said.