Former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte Seemingly Got Annoyed by Ex-Senator Leila de Lima
DUTERTE – The former President was caught on camera making of gesture of seemingly wanting to hit former Senator Leila at the House hearing.
The House Quad Committee has already conducted several hearings regarding the war on drugs of the previous administration but it was only recently when the former President appeared at an inquiry. His appearance came after he also appeared at the first Senate hearing on his admin’s most popular campaign.
Previously, there was an instance when former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte was reportedly not feeling well so he was not able to attend the House Quad Comm hearing. Previously, he responded to a House Quad Comm member’s question if he is afraid to appear at the hearing. Duterte stressed that the House Quad Comm does not scare him a bit.
Prior to the House Quad Committee hearing held at Batasang Pambansa yesterday, it was former presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo who confirmed that he and the former President will appear at the inquiry. He even expressed that they will confront the House members on the changing of the schedule of the probe allegedly without informing them.
The House Quad Comm initially decided to postpone the hearing but decided to forego it after the camp of the former President confirmed his attendance to the inquiry. The House members explained that the former Chief Executive and his lawyer were allegedly informed about the rescheduling of the hearing on Monday night and they have not received a formal communication about his attendance to the probe by Tuesday noon.
The House Quad Comm also invited former Senator Leila de Lima to the hearing. The former Chief Executive and the former Senator who have exchanged heated remarks several times since 2016 were seated beside each other. The former Senator was a staunch critic of the war on drugs of the previous administration.
During the House Quad Comm hearing, former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte was caught on camera making a gesture of seemingly wanting to hit former Sen. Leila de Lima who was seated beside him. At the hearing, the former Senator said that the former President was allegedly lying when he claimed that he does not know her.
“He’s lying when he said that he does not know Leila de Lima. Noon pong first SONA, di ho ba nilapitan niya ako, kinamayan pa niya ako? So hindi niya ako kilala? De Lima said.
Former Pres. Duterte explained that the physical appearance of the former Senator has changed including her hair color. After it, the former President made the alleged “punch” gesture at her while she was not looking.
At the House hearing, former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte also said that the International Criminal Court (ICC) must come to the Philippines right away. He stressed that he might die without them having to investigate him. To recall, it was the former President who removed the inclusion of the Philippines in the ICC in 2019.