Former president Rodrigo Duterte (Keith Bacongco/ MANILA BULLETIN)

It's ultimately up to the House committee to decide whether or not they will summon former president Rodrigo Duterte to participate as a resource person in the inquiry on the alleged "gentleman’s agreement" on the West Philippine Sea (WPS). 

Thus, said Assistant Majority Leader Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong during a press conference Tuesday, April 30. 

However, the House has yet to announce which committee or committees will carry out the probe, and when it would happen. 

"I guess it has to be referred to the Committee on Rules, [it's a] procedural matter. So, the Committee on Rules has yet to determine from which committee the resolution would go to start with the inquiry. So far wala pa, hindi pa napag-usapan (it hasn't been talked about)...but definitely it’s going to be a priority," Adiong said. 
 

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Asked if there was a need to invite Duterte to the investigation, the Mindanao lawmaker said: "Well, the Committee has the power to invite, to extend an invitation to anyone. But that would also depend on the development, in the progress of the committee meetings." 

"So, we don't want to pre-empt whatever the committee will decide on. So le’ts just wait until such a time that the committee will commence its investigation," he added. 

Duterte purportedly struck an agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the WPS during the former's term as president.  

Adiong said the Committee on Rules had a scheduled meeting on Tuesday afternoon.