Senator Risa Hontiveros during a press conference on Thursday, October 10, 2024 at the Senate media room. INQUIRER.net / NOY MORCOSO
MANILA, Philippines — When asked what a separate Senate probe can contribute to the investigation on President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said it would “complement” the House of Representatives’ quad committee.
“Ngayon, maraming nabubunyag ang House quad comm. Hindi ito kompetisyon. Pwede itong tignan na ito’y complementation,” Hontiveros told reporters at a briefing on Friday.
(Much has been revealed at the House quad comm. This is not a competition. We can view this as complementation.)
The senator said, “Pwede na lang idagdag pa doon sa quad comm ay, palagay ko, yung perspektiba lalong lalo na ni Duterte.”
(I think what else can be added to the quad comm is the perspective especially of Duterte.)
Hontiveros previously recommended a Senate committee of the whole to investigate Duterte’s bloody anti-drug campaign to make victims feel more free to discuss their experiences.
READ: Senate committee of the whole probe into Duterte’s drug war sought
A Senate committee of the whole comprises all senators, with the Senate President as chair.
“Palagay ko ang Senate committee of the whole at hindi iisang komite lamang ang mas magbibigay ng kaluwagan ng loob sa mga biktima, victim-survivor ng war on drugs at mga EJKs na dumalo at magsalita,” she said.
(I think the Senate committee of the whole and not one single committee can give victims and survivors of the war on drugs and EJKs more ease to come and speak.)
Two House quad comm chairpersons supported the recommendation.
READ: Quad comm backs Senate committee of the whole drug war probe
On Thursday, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go filed a resolution for the chamber to open its own investigation into the drug war.
READ: Go files resolution on Senate probe into war on drugs
Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa earlier said he was planning a probe in the chamber and inviting former President Duterte, but the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs will lead in his proposal. dela Rosa chairs the committee.
READ: Duterte to be summoned to Senate-led drug war probe, says Bato
Both Go and dela Rosa are close friends of Duterte.
In her October 11 House quad panel testimony, retired police colonel Royina Garma alleged Go was coordinated with National Police Commission commissioner Edilberto Leonardo in forming a nationwide scheme to reward officers for killings of drug suspects.
Meanwhile, dela Rosa was national police chief and top implementer for Duterte’s brutal campaign against drugs and was named in the roster accused of crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court.