MANILA, Philippines – Opposition Senator Leila de Lima agreed to the request of President Rodrigo Duterte’s staunch defender at the Senate, Alan Peter Cayetano, to suspend the hearing on drug-related killings until after the ASEAN meeting in Laos.

The 3rd hearing was originally scheduled for Monday, September 5, which is also the first day the President will be at the regional meeting. 

President Duterte is set to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit from September 6 to 8 in Vientiane, Laos. He is expected to meet with United States President Barack Obama, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, among others.

Cayetano accused De Lima of deliberately scheduling the controversial inquiry on the same day Duterte would meet with global leaders, saying it would jeopardize the country’s reputation.

De Lima said on Thursday, September 1, she is open to postponing the hearing,

“With this so-called appeal or request to delay it, I can grant his request if it is for a ceasefire,” De Lima told reporters in a mix of English and Filipino.

In a privilege speech on Wednesday, Cayetano said: “I heard she scheduled a hearing on September 5. What is our goal here, to know the truth, protect human rights, or embarrass the President?” 

“He’s meeting Obama, prime ministers, and other presidents, but here we are holding a hearing and making it appear that Duterte orchestrated madmen types who are killing everyone, killing all involved in drugs in the country,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Duterte, as early as the campaign period, has vowed to restore peace in the country in 3 to 6 months through a “bloody” war against drugs and crime.

No ill intentions

De Lima said Cayetano’s accusation was unfounded. She maintained she had no intention to demonize Duterte in any way before the international community.

Instead of accusing her of using the probe against the President, De Lima said the administration should have a “ceasefire” on the spate of killings.

After all, it is the summary executions – not the congressional inquiry – that are embarrasing, the senator said.

“I am always in good faith. They are always the ones trying to miscontrue my words and actions. They are the ones thinking negatively, not me. But what I’m saying is, we are embarrassed because of the incessant killings. The best thing to do is to have a ceasefire on the killings,” De Lima said. 

International rights groups and media have expressed concern over the growing number of drug-related killings in the country – something that Duterte and his allies have repeatedly downplayed. – Rappler.com