Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III announced on Tuesday, Oct. 22, that the Senate's parallel probe on former President Rodrigo Duterte's bloody drug war will begin on Monday, Oct. 28.
Pimentel will be presiding over a motu propio investigation of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee subcommittee in lieu of Senator Pia Cayetano, who is currently attending a summit on Energy.
Among those he would be inviting are former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Royina Garma, Edilberto Leonardo, former Senator Leila De Lima, Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa, and the drug war victims.
Pimentel also stated that after speaking with Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, Duterte expressed willingness to attend the investigation.
For an orderly conduct of the investigation, Pimentel said that they would begin with Garma's testimony.
"Yung narrative o yung kwento ni Garma masyadong mabigat yun eh. After that dapat pasagutin na eh yung mga napangalanan dun eh (Garma's story is too heavy. After that, the ones mentioned should be asked about it right away)," Pimentel said.
On the other hand, Pimentel also mentioned that Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa and Senator Christopher "Bong" Go's presence would not affect the probe's credibility.
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 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 it was Espinosa stated that Dela Rosa pressured him in November 2016 to implicate De Lima in the illegal drug trade.
Dela Rosa has earlier stated that the Senate would serve as a venue for the likes of him and Go, as well as others who were accused in the quad-comm hearing to provide their sentiments regarding the issues thrown against them.
Yet Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero said that it would be better if the parallel investigation will not be led by Dela Rosa.
Akbayan made a call to both Go and Dela Rosa to take an indefinite leave amid the Senate's drug war probe.
"Their presence should not affect the credibility of the probe. They are not going to preside. And we have to encourage other senators to show interest in the probe," he said.
However, Pimentel said that there's nothing stopping him from asking the two senators but he would not force them to answer.
"Si Senator Bato, meron siyang personal experience as former PNP chief so pwede siyang tanungin...pero di siya forced sumagot kasi pantay lang kami, respeto lang po iyon (Senator Bato has personal experience as a former PNP chief, so he can be asked...but he shouldn't be forced to answer because, after all, we're equals, and that's just a matter of respect)," he said.
Pimentel also stated that the scope of the investigation will not be limited to Duterte's administration but will also look into the current efforts against illegal drugs.
Once it starts, Pimentel stated earlier the sub-panel would have to “fast-track everything.”
“We do not really have all the time in the world because it is already budget season. I am also preparing for the budget hearing,” he said.
“As the minority leader, I have questions to ask. We will stay focused. We will deal only with issues relating to the drug war,” he added.