Sen. Koko Pimentel Says A Lot of Resource Persons Invited to Drug War Probe of Duterte Admin
KOKO PIMENTEL – The Senate Minority Leader said the Senate probe on the Duterte drug war will push through with or without the former President.
The drug war of the Duterte administration is surrounded by several issues and allegations. There are deaths linked to the most popular campaign of the presidency of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. It sparked investigations.
Currently, in the House of Representatives, there is an ongoing probe of the Duterte drug war spearheaded by the House Quad Committee. However, based on a report on GMA News, the former President recently once again declined the invitation of the House QuadComm to a hearing. Duterte was reportedly not feeling well so he skipped the inquiry.
The Senate also launched its own probe on the drug war of the Duterte admin. Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel is set to preside over the investigation and they invited former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Aside from the former Chief Executive, former Sen. Leila de Lima who is a stauch critic of the drug war is also invited to the inquiry.
Sen. Bato dela Rosa previously confirmed that former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte will attend the Senate hearing on his admin’s campaign. Prior to it, the Senator who was the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) during the Duterte admin claimed that the former President is more comfortable in the Senate than in the House of Representatives.
Following the recent absence of former Pres. Duterte in the House QuadComm hearing of his war on drugs, Sen. Koko Pimentel stressed that the Senate hearing will push through with or without the presence of the former President. The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee will lead the probe.
“Sa dami naman ng aming imbitadong resource person at witnesses pumunta man si former president Duterte o hindi, tuloy ang hearing,” Pimentel said.
Based on the report, the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on the Duterte drug war is set to begin today, October 28, 2024. Sen. Koko Pimentel said there might be three (3) hearings over the issue and the concerned individuals will be given a chance to speak on the claims of retire Police Colonel Royina Garma.
Garma previously claimed that the campaign of the previous admin was allegedly implemented through a reward system among the PNP. Former Pres. Duterte denied giving monetary rewards in his admin’s war on drugs.