Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers (left), former president Rodrigo Duterte (MANILABULLETIN, Malacañang)

The House quad-committee (quad-comm) will push through with its scheduled 11th hearing this Wednesday morning, Nov. 13, on the topic of the previous Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs.

The particular hearing was earlier announced as cancelled.

But a notice acquired by the Manila Buletin indicated that the hearing will take place at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at the People's Center, House of Representatives, Batasan, Quezon City. 

"Kindly disregard the earlier notice of cancellation regarding this matter," read the notice, which was signed by quad-comm overall chairman, Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers.

On Tuesday, lawyer Salvador Panelo reportedly said that he and former president Rodrigo Duterte would personally appear at the House.

READ THIS:

https://mb.com.ph/2024/11/12/adiong-zamora-chide-duterte-for-making-empty-promise

Duterte, 79, is the central figure of the quad-comm inquiry.

The ex-president no-showed the Oct. 22 and Nov. 7 hearings of the special four-way panel, for varying reasons. 

'Take advantage'

Barbers, in a chance interview just before the hearing, said the quad-comm rescinded the cancellation in order to take advantage of Duterte’s planned appearance.

"Dahil nga po may mga impormasyon na nakarating sa amin na ang dating Pangulo ay pupunta at a-attend ngayon sa ating hearing ay gusto naming i-take advantage yung pagkakataon na nandito siya," he told reporters gathered at the People's Center. 

(We wanted to take advantage of his presence here since we received information that he will come and attemd the hearing.)

He says the quad-comm has long wanted a chance to get Duterte’s statements.

"Minsanan lamang ito, hindi na tayo sure kung kailan pa makakarating ang dating pangulo," he noted.

(This doesn’t happen often, we're not sure when we will see the former president again.)