Senators have chosen the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to lead the investigation into the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said on Sunday, October 20.
Escudero said Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III is poised to lead the Senate subcommittee probe since Sen. Pia Cayetano, chairperson of the panel, is still busy while the Senate is still on recess since she is a re-electionist.
The Senate leader said he has also discussed the matter with Senators Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and Christopher “Bong” Go and asked them to coordinate with the subpanel regarding the witnesses they wish to invite to the hearing.
“At nakausap ko na sila at nasabihin ko na kung maaari makipag-coordinate kay Sen. Bato at Sen. Go kaugnay ng mga testigong na isinilang maimbitan at nang schedule din na magiging pagdinig (I have already asked them to coordinate with Senators Bato and Go regarding the witnesses they wish to invite and also, the schedule of the hearings),” Escudero said in an interview by Radio DZBB.
According to the Senate chief, the Senate Committee on Public Accountability and Investigations (blue ribbon) was chosen to lead the probe because it can do motu proprio investigation while Congress is still on a break.
“We reiterate that the blue ribbon committee is the only panel that has the power to conduct motu proprio hearings. Not all (Senate) committees can conduct motu proprio hearings and respond to the request of Sen. Bato to conduct a hearing while we are on recess,” Escudero said in Filipino during the interview.
The Senate leader said this would help the Upper Chamber focus on the deliberations on the proposed 2025 national budget once the Senate resumes sessions on Nov. 4, 2024.
Go earlier pressed for a parallel Senate investigation into the Duterte administration’s campaign against illegal drugs after “baseless accusations” had been raised against him, Dela Rosa and former president Rodrigo Duterte at the House Quad Committee (QuadComm) investigation.
Dela Rosa, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, said he will launch a motu proprio investigation into the war on drugs of the Duterte administration and said the former president would be invited to the probe.
Last Thursday, Go filed Senate Resolution No. 1217, asking the public order committee to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation on the Duterte administration’s anti-narcotics campaign.
Go had defended the previous administration’s campaign against illegal drugs saying it “became the bedrock of the Duterte administration, which delivered a strong message that has resonated deeply with many Filipinos, fueled by their escalating frustration over the worsening drug crisis.”
Escudero had earlier said it is better for Dela Rosa, who was the chief implementer of the so-called “Oplan Tokhang” and as then the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief during the Duterte administration, not to spearhead the probe to avoid any allegations of impartiality or questions about fairness. a