Following Duterte’s Absence at Hearing, House Quad Member Throws Questions for Former President
House Quad member Representative Joseph Stephen Paduano raised questions on the absence of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte at the hearing.
The war on drugs of the Duterte administration is surrounded by issues and accusations. There are deaths that are linked to the most popular campaign of the previous administration. Hearings regarding the anti-drugs campaign are conducted in the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte attended the Senate hearing on the war on drugs. It was led by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee and was presided by Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel. After the inquiry, Pimentel stressed that he is not a Duterte supporter anymore and the former Chief Executive has no power over him.
At the Senate hearing, Duterte admitted that he has ordered the police to encourage the criminals to fight back. He also stressed that he has already warned the Filipinos not to engage in drugs. According to him, the anti-drugs campaign was for the protection of the Filipinos and the country.
Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte expressed taking a full legal responsibility over his administration’s war on drugs campaign. According to the former Chief Executive, he’s also wondering why the Department of Justice (DOJ) has yet to file a case against him.
After the Senate hearing, Sen. Koko Pimentel expressed seeing no need to invite former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte in the next hearing over the war on drugs. He also claimed that he and Duterte no longer talk and his committee report is not affected by the relationship and disputes.
While Duterte willingly attends the Senate hearing over the war on drugs of his administration, he has repeatedly snubbed the inquiry led by the House Quad Committee. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, the former President once again skipped the hearing and it triggered the disappointment of House Quad member Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano.
The House Quad member expressed his belief that former Pres. Duterte must be invited to the hearing again. Based on the report, he also expressed a question if the former Chief Executive is scared to attend a hearing at the lower chamber.
“Ano to naglolokahan tayo dito? Natatakot siya na pumunta dito? We should invite again the former president to be present in the next hearing,” Paduano said.
Previously, the legal counsel of former Pres. Duterte, Atty. Martin Delgra III, said in a letter to the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs that the former Chief Executive is “doubtful” on the integrity and independence of the House Quad Comm so he prefers not to attend.
Pres. Bongbong Marcos was asked about Duterte’s revelations and admissions at the Senate hearing which included a claim that a drug den was allegedly raided inside the Malacañang Palace.