For Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero, it would be better if the Senate's parallel probe on Rodrigo Duterte's controversial drug war would not be led by the ex-president's close allies Senators Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa and Christopher "Bong" Go.

In a chance interview on Thursday, Oct. 17, Escudero bared to reporters that he had already mentioned this concern to Dela Rosa, and that they are set to discuss the matter this coming weekend.

"Nakausap ko na si Senator Bato kaugnay niyan, ang sinabi ko sa kanya, ano mang imbestigasyon na nais niya patungkol sa kanya mismo at Senator Go mas maganda siguro kung hindi sila mismo ang manguna ng komiteng yun (I already spoke with Senator Bato about that, I told him that whatever investigation that he wants regarding him and Senator Go, it would be better if they won't be heading the committee looking into it)," Escudero said.

"Para walang alegasyon na ito ay personal at hindi impartial at hindi fair. Yun ang haharapin namin sa mga susunod na araw (To avoid allegations that this is personal and therefore impartial and unfair. That's what we'll be facing in the coming days)," he added.

In a text message, Escudero shared that he told Dela Rosa that it might not sit well with some senators as well as the public for him to lead the investigation on the war on drugs.

He added that he would consult the members of the Senate and explore all available options.

It was Go who brought up the possibility of the Senate conducting a parallel probe of Duterte's drug war, alongside that of the House quad-committee (quad-comm).

Duterte was accused by Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Royina Garma of spearheading in 2016 a nationwide, cash reward-driven war on illegal drugs that allegedly encouraged the killing of drug suspects.

Go was mentioned in Garma's testimony, while Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa stated that Dela Rosa pressured him in November 2016 to implicate former senator Leila de Lima in the illegal drug trade.

Dela Rosa had earlier stated that the Senate would serve as a venue for the likes of him and Go, as well as others who had been accused in the quad-comm hearing to provide their sentiments regarding the issues thrown against them.

Senate Committee of the Whole

Meanwhile, Senator Risa Hontiveros said that for the purpose of investigating the drug war in the Senate, she would propose the creation of a Senate Committee of the Whole wherein the entire Senate would be involved in the probe.

"Dahil sa pamamagitan niyang Senate Committee of the Whole, umaasa ako na mas panatag at mas maieengganyo rin na sumali at tumestigo ang victim survivors ng war on drugs (Through this Senate Committee of the Whole, I am confident that the victim survivors of the war on drugs will feel more at ease and more encouraged to participate and testify)," she said in a radio interview on DZXL.

Escudero said that while this was an option, he's looking for another different committee aside from the Dela Rosa-chaired Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs that could spearhead the drug war investigation.

"Ang tinitingnan ko rin ang ibang komite na pwedeng maghandle nito maliban sa komite ni senator bato. Syempre may karapatan siya, bahagi siya dun sa pagtalakay at pagdiscuss ng bagay na yun (What I'm also looking at is a different committee that might be able to handle this aside from Senator Bato's committee. Of course, he has the right, he's a part of the discussion and deliberation of that matter)," he added.

Escudero said that Dela Rosa was fine with this as they spoke about it through text.

For her part, Senator Imee Marcos said she believes that the House quad-comm has collected ample evidence to bring the matter to court, so that "swift justice" could be achieved.

"Palagay ko (In my opinion), the Department of Justice (DOJ) is competent at this point to make a case with the help of CIDG and NBI. Perhaps prosecution is in order," she said in the Kapihan Sa Senado forum.