Sen. Koko Pimentel Speaks on Ties w/ Former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte
KOKO PIMENTEL – The Senate Minority Leader clarified that former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte has no influence over him.
Countless Filipinos were hooked by the recent Senate hearing on the Duterte administration’s war on drugs. Former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte appeared at the probe and spoke lengthily on his admin’s campaign.
The appearance of Duterte at the war on drugs hearing is undeniably a surprise to many people who expected that he will not come. The House Quad Committee has also invited Duterte to a probe of his drug war but the former Chief Executive did not appear at the lower chamber.
Previously, it was Senator Bato dela Rosa who first publicly spoke about his intention to launch a war on drugs probe. However, the Senator was only left criticized after making the said statement as he is also accused in the issues surrounding the war on drugs.
Sen. Bato dela Rosa was the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief during the Duterte administration. According to former Senator Leila de Lima, it will appear funny if Dela Rosa who is one of the accused will also be a judge.
The Senate hearing on the war on drugs was led by the Blue Ribbon Committee. Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel presided the investigation. He previously stressed that the hearing will continue with or without the attendance of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
Following the Senate hearing on the war on drugs of the previous administration, Sen. Koko Pimentel clarified the ties between him and former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, he stressed that the former Chief Executive allegedly has no influence over him.
Pimentel was a Duterte supporter and they were both members of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban). However, they had a falling out following an intra-party issue.
Based on the report, Sen. Koko Pimentel stressed that he is no longer a supporter for former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. According to him, their past relationship and even their present disputes will not affect his way of thinking.
“I’m no longer his supporter now… So we have our political differences. We do not communicate. Hindi na kami close. And he has absolutely zero influence over me especially on the way I think,” Pimentel said.
In the upcoming 2025 Midterm Election, former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte is running for Davao City Mayor. His youngest son, Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte, will be his running mate in the upcoming election.