Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte Refuses To Attend House Quad Comm Hearing
RODRIGO DUTERTE – The former President reacted to the disappointment of the House Quad Comm members over his non-attendance to the hearing.
Both the Senate and the House of Representatives are currently conducting investigations on the war on drugs of the Duterte administration. The upper chamber had its first hearing with former Pres. Duterte as one of the resource speakers.
The Senate invited several resourse persons at the hearing of the war on drugs. The inquiry was led by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee and Senator Koko Pimentel presided the investigation. Sen. Bato dela Rosa has expressed an intent to launch a probe into the Duterte drug war and invite the former President.
Dela Rosa was confident that Duterte will attend the hearing most especially if it is him who will invite the former President. However, his remarks gathered negative reactions from many people. Former Sen. Leila de Lima stressed that he is one of the accused.
Dela Rosa was the chief of the PNP (Philippine National Police) during the Duterte administration. At the Senate hearing, the former President said that he takes all the legal responsibilities in his administration’s drug war. According to him, the police were only following his orders.
However, while former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte spoke with no hesitation at the Senate hearing, he repeatedly snubbed the invitation of the House Quad Comm. On his recent absence at the House QuadComm hearing, Duterte’s legal counsel, Atty. Martin Delgra III, said that his client is doubtful on the independence and integrity of the Committee.
House Quad member co-chair Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano asked if former Pres. Duterte is scared that is why he refuses to attend the hearing set by the lower chamber. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, the former President reacted to the House members’ disappointment saying that traveling to Metro Manila is costly for him.
“Wala na akong pera eh. Mamasahe ako doon. I am living on my retirement pay. Wala akong extra money sa bangko, lahat sweldo ko yan,” former Pres. Duterte said.
According to former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte, the lawmakers cannot intimidate him with threats that they will cite him in contempt. Based on the report, he stressed that he’s handled several positions.
“You don’t scare me a bit. Galing na ako pagka-presidente, wag nila akong ganunin. Galing na ako sa Congress. Nag-mayor ako, nag-congressman ako, nag-presidente na ako,” he said.
At the Senate hearing, the former Chief Executive had several admissions and revelations. He also claimed that a drug den was allegedly raided inside the Malacañang Palace. Pres. Bongbong Marcos was asked about the revelations of Duterte.