Senate subpoenas Garma, others who skipped drug war hearing

Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa. Photo from Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate blue ribbon subcommittee headed by Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel on Monday subpoenaed individuals who skipped the hearing on the Duterte administration’s drug war.

It was Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa who made the motion to subpoena all individuals included in the chamber’s list of invitees but opted not to attend the public hearing. It seconded by Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada.

“I would rather that next hearing, we have to require their presence because I can only surmise with their absence that they don’t want their statements that they have given before the House of Representatives to be debunked before this body,” Dela Rosa said.

“Ayaw nila lumabas ang katotohanan kapag ayaw nila pumunta rito (They do not want the truth to come out that’s why they do not want to be here). That’s my only observation,” he added.

At this point, Estrada interjected, moving to amend Dela Rosa’s motion.

“I just would like to amend the motion of Sen. Bato that we issue a subpoena [ad testificandum] against all those who were invited but did not attend today’s hearing,” he said.

Later in the hearing, Pimentel approved the motion, ordering the issuance of a subpoena to the following individuals:

• Ret. Col. Royina Garma
• Former Napolcom Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo
• Former Director of the Directorate for Reformation of BuCor Gerardo Padilla
• Ret. PGen. Oscar Albayalde
• Former PNP Chief Guillermo Eleazar
• Ret. Gen. Dionardo Carlos
• Alleged drug lord Kerwin Espinosa
• Ret. Gen. Isidro Lapeña
• Ret. Gen. Wilkins Villanueva
• Irmina Espino

READ: Total drug war deaths at 6,235 as of February 2022, says PDEA

The Senate on Monday launched its investigation into the Philippine war on illegal drugs. The probe was conducted in light of the House of Representatives’ continuing investigation into the anti-narcotics campaign.