DAVAO CITY – Former President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to attend the Oct. 22 hearing regarding his administration’s war on illegal drugs following a recent invitation from the House of Representatives quad committee (quad-comm).
DUTERTE (PDP-Laban FB)
However, a source, speaking anonymously due to the lack of authority to disclose details, said his plans remain subject to change.
In a document dated Oct. 18 signed by Surigao del Norte second district Rep Ace Barbers, chairman of the quad-comm, Duterte was invited to provide valuable insights to support the ongoing investigation on his administration’s war on drugs.
“The joint committee respectfully invites you to attend the inquiry to provide valuable insights and shed light on the issues under discussion, particularly the extrajudicial killings (EJKs),” said a portion of the invitation released to the media on Oct. 20.
In a phone patch interview in the “Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa” program aired on the Sonshine Media Network International on Thursday, Duterte told his former legal adviser Salvador Panelo that he would gladly attend the quad-comm hearing if he is invited.
Senate President Francis Escudero announced on Sunday that the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee will conduct its investigation into the Duterte administration’s drug war, running parallel to the inquiry led by the quad-comm.
Escudero said Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III will lead the proceedings through a Blue Ribbon subcommittee, as its chair, Senator Pia Cayetano, is currently focused on her reelection campaign.
In a recent hearing, retired police officer and former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office General Manager Royina Garma claimed that Duterte and other top officials authorized covert operations mirroring the Davao City extrajudicial killings on a nationwide scale.
Police records said the Duterte administration’s war on drugs resulted in the deaths of 6,000 individuals. Human rights organizations, however, said that the number of fatalities, including those from vigilante killings, could be as high as 30,000.
The former Chief Executive said that he never ordered the police to kill any drug suspects. He added that his instructions were only to find and arrest them but if they fought back and if the police saw themselves in danger, they had to do what they had to do as lawmen.
Duterte said he is not surprised that those who used to work with him are now testifying against him. He added that when it comes to politics, there are only temporary alliances, fragile friendships, friendships founded on shaky grounds, and grounded friendships.