Panukalang gawing heinous crime ang EJK, isinulong

ISINULONG ng mga mambabatas na iklasipikang heinous crimes ang extrajudicial killings (EJKs) sa kamara.

Nakapaloob ito sa House Bill (HB) No. 10986 o Anti-Extrajudicial Killing Act, na inihain nina Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr., Deputy Speaker David “Jayjay” Suarez at Quad Committee co-chairmen Reps. Robert Ace Barbers, Bienvenido “Benny” Abante, Dan Fernandez at Stephen Joseph “Caraps” Paduano.

Ang iba pang author ay sina Reps. Romeo Acop, Johnny Pimentel, Gerville “Jinky” Luistro, Rodge Gutierrez, Paolo Ortega, Jay Khonghun at Jonathan Keith Flores.

Ibinase ang panukala sa naging findings at recommendations ng Quad Committee na nagsasagawa ng imbestigasyon sa EJKs in aid of legislation at naglalayong magkaroon ng mas mahigpit ang legal standards para tugunan ang krimen at mapanagot ang mga may sala.

“Extrajudicial killing or the killing of individuals without judicial proceedings or legal authority, poses a grave threat to the rule of law, democracy and the protection of human rights. These acts bypass established judicial procedures, undermining public trust in the justice system and violating the basic rights to life and due process guaranteed by the Constitution,” nakasaad sa explanatory note ng panukala.

“The lack of accountability for such crimes contributes to a culture of impunity, where perpetrators believe they can act without fear of legal consequences. This bill seeks to explicitly criminalize EJK, ensuring that any individual, regardless of rank or position, who is found guilty of participating in, authorizing, or condoning such acts will face appropriate criminal penalties,” nakasaad pa.

Sa ilalim ng panukala, ang extrajudicial killings ay ika-klasipika bilang heinous crimes, na nangangahulugan na kapag napatunayang nagkasala ay kakaharap sa hatol na habangbuhay na pagkabilanggo o reclusion perpetua ng walang posibilidad ng parole.

Tinukoy niito ang pagpatay na ginawa ng state agents o inatasano kinunsinti ng nasa otoridad.

“Extrajudicial killing (EJK) refers to any killing other than that imposed by the State pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution on heinous crimes or a deliberate and arbitrary killing of any person not authorized by a previous judgment pronounced by a competent court affording all the judicial guarantees which are recognized as indispensable by civilized peoples. It may be committed a public officer, person in authority, agent of a person in authority, or any person who is acting under the actual or apparent authority of the State,” saad pa sa panukala. (Vina de Guzman)