Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte Arrives at Senate for Drug War Hearing
RODRIGO DUTERTE – The former President arrived at the hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee over his admin’s war on drugs.
Contrary to his behavior on the drug war investigation of the House Quad Committee, former Pres. Duterte arrived at the Senate today for the probe of the upper chamber on the issue. The Senate inquiry is led by the Blue Ribbon Committee.
Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel who earlier said that the Senate investigation on the Duterte drug war will push through with or without the former president will preside the inquiry. The Senator’s statement came after another instance of the former President declining the House QuadComm invitation.
Sen. Bato dela Rosa previously confirmed the attendance of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte to the Senate hearing. Prior to it, it was Dela Rosa who was the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) who expressed a desire to launch a Senate probe on the Duterte drug war.
However, the pronouncement of Dela Rosa was met with criticisms. Former Sen. Leila de Lima stressed that the Senator is also one of the accused in the issue. According to the former Senator, it will appear funny to have one of the accused as also the judge in the inquiry.
The Senate investigation on the Duterte drug war is set to start today. Former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte arrived at the hearing. Based on a report on GMA News, in a chance interview with the press, the former Chief Executive stressed that he did the anti-drugs campaign for the Filipino people.
“I did what I had to do because kailangan kong gawin. Why? To protect the people and my country,” Duterte said.
When asked if he has regrets on the drug war, the former President said that “it is for the Filipino to make the judgment”. Based on the report, he expressed his hope that there will be a fair judgement in the Senate investigation over his admin’s anti-drugs campaign.
Previously, former Sen. Dela Rosa expressed that the drug war cannot be fought by just “pa-cute-cute lang”. According to him, he does not regret joining the campaign of the previous administration.