Former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte Attends House Probe on Drug War
RODRIGO DUTERTE – At the House hearing, the former President told the International Criminal Court (ICC) to come to the Philippines immediately and start the investigation.
The drug war of the administration of former Pres. Duterte is surrounded by several issues and accusations. There are several deaths linked to the war on drugs campaign of the previous admin. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives have launched an investigation on the issue.
Former Pres. Duterte appeared on the first hearing set by the Senate over his administration’s war on drugs. It was Senator Bato dela Rosa who confirmed the attendance of Duterte into the probe. Initially, it was also the Senator who expressed a desire to launch an investigation on the issue and invite the former President.
Amid the repetitive absence of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte at the House hearings, Sen. Bato dela Rosa expressed his confidence that the former Chief Executive will attend the Senate probe. According to the Senator who is close to the former President, Duterte is more comfortable in the Senate than in the House.
On his absence at the previous House Quad Comm hearing, the former Chief Executive claimed that he has no more money and the transportation expenses to Metro Manila may be costly for him. According to the former President, he is just living within his retirement pay.
Unexpectedly, recently, the camp of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte confirmed his attendance to the House Quad Comm hearing. The inquiry was initially postponed at a later date but the mega panel has decided to cancel the postponement of the probe and push through with it today.
At the House Quad Comm hearing, former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte was asked by Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas if he is willing to cooperate with the investigation of the International Criminal Court or the ICC. The international body is pushing a probe on the Duterte drug war but the former Chief Executive has decided to remove the country from the ICC in 2019.
In his response, Duterte told the ICC to hurry up and they can come here and start the investigation tomorrow. According to him, if they will find him guilty, he will go to prison and rot in jail.
“So, I am asking the ICC, through you, na magpunta na sila dito, bukas. Umpisahan na nila ang investigation. If I am found guilty I will go to prison and rot there for all time,” the former President said.
According to the 79-year-old former President, the issue is on the surface for several years now. He stressed that he might die and the ICC will not be able to investigate.
A few days ago, after the Senate hearing on the war on drugs, Senator Koko Pimentel expressed a call to Pres. Bongbong Marcos to let the PH rejoin the ICC as it can serve as an insurance for the country. Following the Senate hearing, Sen. Koko Pimentel stressed that he is not anymore a Duterte supporter and the former President allegedly has no power over him.