Solon chides ex-President Duterte for skipping quad comm hearing

ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro —Photo from House of Representative FB Page

MANILA, Philippines — ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro likened another Duterte to a squid — this time, former President Rodrigo Duterte — after the ex-leader skipped the House of Representatives’ quad committee hearings on Tuesday.

At the ninth quad committee hearing held on Tuesday, Castro claimed that it seems the former president and his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, are only brave to speak their minds when they are not facing Congress.

Castro first gave the squid attribution to Vice President Duterte last August 27, when she refrained from directly addressing questions regarding the Office of the Vice President’s confidential fund use.

“Ang kinatawan pong ito ay lubos na nababahala at dismayado sa hindi pagdalo ng dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa hearing ng ating komite.  Parang naggagayahan lang ang mag-amang Duterte; ang daming sinasabi kapag hindi under oath o wala sa tamang lugar,” Castro said.

(This representation is concerned that the former president Duterte would not attend our committee hearing.  It seems like the father-and-daughter tandem imitate each other — they say a lot when they are not under oath.)

“Pero kapag pinatawag na sa pormal na pagdinig nag-uugaling pusit na pareho at ang dami ng rason para huwag dumalo at sagutin ng maayos ang mga katanungan natin,” she added.

(But when you call them to a formal hearing, both show squid tactics and give several reasons why they should not properly answer our questions.)

READ: Squid tactics? Castro scores VP Sara for deflecting secret fund issue

According to Castro, if Duterte does not attend the next hearing, he should be cited for contempt already, adding that it is an insult to the elderly relatives of drug war victims who showed up on Tuesday.

Castro’s fellow Makabayan bloc member and Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas also asked if Duterte is afraid of facing the public.

“Mr. Chair, the non-appearance of Former President Rodrigo Duterte at the quad comm hearing today is a clear manifestation of his disregard for truth, justice, and accountability. By refusing to participate, the former president is hindering the people’s right to know and denying them the opportunity to seek justice for the crimes caused by the war on drugs during his term,” she said.

“He cannot claim short notice and that he needs rest.  Families of the drug war victims, even if they are old like Tatay Baylon, still went here to air their sentiments.  Is he afraid of facing the public?” she asked.

Duterte, according to his lawyer, former Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chairperson and lawyer Martin Delgra III, wanted to attend the hearing but was feeling unwell.

Delgra in a letter sent to the quad committee said that Duterte has just arrived in Davao City last October 17, and received the letter a day after, on October 18.

READ: Rodrigo Duterte wants to attend drug war probe but not feeling well – lawyer 

Furthermore, Delgra said Duterte is willing to show up to the quad committee hearing, but requested that it be at hearings after November 1.

The letter was addressed to quad committee lead presiding officer, Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers.

Prior to Castro and Brosas’ manifestation, there was a discussion as to whether Duterte would be excused from the hearing, and whether a medical certificate would be required of the former president to justify his absence.

House committee on public accounts chairperson and Abang Lingkod party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano said that resource persons are required to show proof as to the reason why they are absent.

Barbers in response said that he is asking the other quad committee chairpersons to extend some courtesy to the former president considering that Duterte is at an advanced age already.

“What I am asking for your Honor is that the request that we should not ask or demand a medical certification coming from the former president because we all know that he has reached an age, of a fragile age, therefore maybe, we can grant that exception to the former president,” Barbers said.

“In this particular case, in deference to him being the former president, I would like to ask for your understanding to extend a little bit of the courtesy that is due to him, for being the former president.  There are no special favors here, I don’t want to be misquoted, that’s only what I want,” he added, before other committee chairpersons agreed.

Duterte’s name was mentioned several times during the course of the quad committee hearings, which started last August 16.  At the second hearing alone, Duterte was accused of being behind the killing of three Chinese nationals detained at the Davao Prison and Penal Farm.

According to the testimony from self-confessed killer Leopoldo Tan, he and a certain Fernando Magdadaro were hired to kill Chu Kin Tung, Jackson Lee, and Peter Wang — the three detainees serving time for drug-related charges.

Tan claimed that Bureau of Corrections official S/Supt. Gerardo Padilla talked to a person over the phone after the alleged kill order was carried out, whom he identified as Duterte.  Tan said Duterte even congratulated the jail officer.

READ: Duterte ordered killing of 3 Chinese men in 2016, hitman claims 

Eventually, discussions of EJKs moved towards a testimony from former police colonel Royina Garma about the national anti-drug campaign adopting a “Davao template”, where police officers involved in killings would be given monetary rewards.

READ: Garma says Davao drug war template, rewards system applied in entire PH 

Testifying before the quad committee last October 11, Garma said Duterte contacted her in May 2016 about the creation of a national task force, tasking her to find a Philippine National Police (PNP) officer or operative who is a member of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, who can implement the drug war on a national scale, while “replicating the Davao model.”