PRO-7 welcomes Senate probe into Cebu killings

CEBU, Philippines — The Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) has welcomed the Senate minority bloc’s move to conduct an inquiry into the spate of killings in Cebu.

“Welcome man. Okay man na siya (Senate inquiry),” said Superintendent Reyman Tolentin, PRO-7 spokesperson.

He, however, said they are still waiting for instructions from the national police headquarters.

"Kahibaw ta ang region is under sa national headquarters. About Senate inquiry, kon unsa mando sa amo labaw that is all we have to do. Wala na mi mabuhat ana. We have to face it. Isa na sa trabaho sa pulis," he said.

Tolentin said police will continue to wage a war against illegal drugs.

In filing Senate Resolution 915, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Senators Francis Pangilinan, Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, Risa Hontiveros, Antonio Trillanes IV, and Leila de Lima said they were gravely concerned about the killings that were said to be part of the government’s all-out war against drugs.

Opposition senators previously issued a statement expressing alarm over the brazenness of the killings in the country, especially in Metro Cebu where several of the suspected drug personalities were killed in police operations.

At least 42 killings have been recorded in Cebu over the last two weeks. That translates to an average of three persons getting killed across the province everyday for the last 14 days. The figure includes those who died during police operations and those killed by unidentified perpetrators. (FREEMAN)