Former president Rodrigo Duterte has already received the invitation of the Quad-Committee of the House of Representatives in connection with the ongoing investigation into the alleged human rights violations of his drug war.
Police Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo, spokesperson of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said the invitation was sent by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in compliance with the order from the House of Representatives.
Earlier, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, one of the chairmen of the House Committee probing the alleged human rights abuses and extra-judicial killings of Duterte’s drug war, instructed the CIDG to make sure that the invitation to join the hearing would reach the former president.
“Congressman Barbers directed the CIDG to make sure that the invitation addressed to the former president must be received by him or his representative,” said Fajardo.
“And what I can confirm is that the invitation was already received,” she added.
The scheduled hearing is on Tuesday, Oct. 22.
Fajardo, however, would not say who received the invitation, explaining that she has no clearance to reveal more details.
But she admitted receiving a photo of the invitation being received as proof.
The former president was invited to attend the hearing due to the revelations of retired police colonel and former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Royima Garma that there was a reward system in the drug war.
Duterte was also implicated in the killing of three Chinese drug lords inside a Davao penal colony barely a month after he became president.
Duterte was earlier quoted saying that he will attend the hearing.
Fajardo, meanwhile, said they see no problem if the Senate would conduct its own investigation into the drug war.
“That is within the prerogative and power and authority ng Senate to schedule a hearing with respect to these issues and we cannot question that. But if the PNP will be invited in any of these hearings as always the PNP will cooperate,” said Fajardo.