Duterte Once Again Skips House Quad Comm Hearing on War on Drugs
House Quad Comm co-chair Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano slammed former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte for his absence at the hearing.
Amid the ongoing hearing in the House of Representatives over the war on drugs of the Duterte administration, the Senate also launched its own probe. It was led by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
Initially, it was Senator Bato dela Rosa who wanted to launch a Senate investigation on the Duterte drug war. However, his pronouncement invited criticisms as he was the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) during the Duterte administration.
The upper chamber tasked the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to lead the investigation on the war on drugs of the previous admin. It was presided by Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel.
At the Senate hearing, Duterte told the lawmakers that he takes “full legal responsibility” over the war on drugs of his administration. According to him, he wants the police to be spared as they only followed his orders.
The former President admitted to ordering the cops to encourage their targets to fight back. He also claimed that his admin’s campaign is to protect the people and the country and he only did what he needed to do.
Contrary to how easy it was for the Senate to get the attendance of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte at the war on drugs hearing, the House Quad Comm was once again left disappointed by the former Chief Executive skipping another hearing.
“Ano to naglolokahan tayo dito? Natatakot siya na pumunta dito? We should invite again the former president to be present in the next hearing,” House Quad Comm co-chair Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano said.
Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, prior to the inquiry, Atty. Martin Delgra III, the legal counsel of former Pres. Duterte, sent a letter to the House Quad Comm saying that the former Chief Executive refuses to attend the hearing over his administration’s war on drugs.
According to Delgra, Duterte is “doubtful” of the independence of the House Quad Comm as well as its integrity. With regards to the Senate hearing, after the inquiry, Sen. Koko Pimentel said he is no longer a Duterte supporter.