Former President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Risa Hontiveros had a heated exchange during the Senate hearing on the drug war on Monday, October 28, 2024. (Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)
MANILA, Philippines — Unknown to many, the exchange between former President Rodrigo Duterte and opposition Sen. Risa Hontiveros during the Senate drug war probe became more intense when the hearing was suspended.
However, Duterte sometimes provided comic relief for some who still find his jokes funny.
All these happened when the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee, headed by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, launched its investigation into the Philippines’ war on drugs.
While debating with Hontiveros over his pronouncements that he would “take full responsibility” for his administration’s anti-illegal drugs campaign, Duterte requested Pimentel to suspend the hearing.
READ: Duterte takes ‘full legal, moral responsibility’ for drug war
“Can I ask for a recess?” Duterte said.
Pimentel complied with the request and suspended the proceeding.
As soon as the hearing was suspended, Duterte promptly asked, “Can the chair talk to the senator?”
The former leader requested while pointing his finger at Pimentel and Hontiveros.
This did not escape Hontiveros.
“And can the resource person not point his finger at a member of the committee?” she said.
Pimentel intervened and asked Duterte if he was no longer in the mood to answer questions from senators.
“We can just excuse you. Sabi mo kasi (because you said) sir you came here to answer questions,” Pimentel said.
“And Mr. chair, the chair is fully capable of talking to a member of his subcomittee without being pointed by the resource person,” Hontiveros went on.
The exchange between Duterte and Hontiveros continued when the proceedings resumed.
Hontiveros pursued her queries about Duterte’s pronouncements that he would take full responsibility for the drug war during his presidency.
But when Hontiveros pressed him to state this stand on specific cases like the 2017 death of Karl Anthony Nunez, Duterte raised his voice.
READ: Relatives of 20-year-old ‘mistaken identity’ victim cry for justice
“I was talking about the policy; I take full responsibility yung sinabi ko na war on drugs. Pero magpasok ka ng specific crime, hindi puwede yan. At saka kung sabihin ko I will take full responsibility, magdating tayo sa korte hindi naman tatangapin yan!” Duterte said.
(I was talking about the policy; I take full responsibility for what I said about the war on drugs. But if you bring up a specific crime, that’s unacceptable. And if I say I will take full responsibility when we get to court, that won’t be accepted!)
Hontiveros asked Duterte to “keep his volume and pitch to a normal level.”
“Eh, you’re trying to pin me down,” Duterte explained.
“Mr. chair, you’re pinned down by your own statements,” Hontiveros answered.
Sensing the tension between the two, Pimentel suspended the hearing.
But Duterte could still be heard telling Hontiveros, “Don’t pin me down on semantics.”
While the hearing was suspended, Duterte asked to be excused so he could use the men’s room.
“Naiihi ako sa nerbyos dito (I feel like peeing due to nervousness),” Duterte said, drawing laughter from some people around him.
When the hearing resumed, Hontiveros informed the body that she still had a dozen more questions for Duterte but would just limit it to two as he might be having “high blood” pressure because of her.
A cooler Duterte responded to the senator, explaining that he was just “excited” because it was his first time to attend a Senate hearing.
He assured Hontiveros he had nothing personal against her.
“Yung boses ko lang kasi (It’s just my voice because I’m) excited but if you’re offended by the demeanor, then mag-change gear ako (I will change my gear). I’ll try [to] do it with moderation,” Duterte said.
Later in the hearing, Pimentel told Duterte that he could be excused from the proceeding upon the request of his friends in the hearing room.
But Duterte insisted on staying, saying it was the chance for him to answer the issues hurled at him.
“Tapusin natin itong pu********* problema ng Pilipinas,” he said.
(Let’s finish this damn problem of the Philippines.)
As some guests started to stand up, Duterte remained seated, this time talking about the problems of the country’s police force.
It took about a few minutes more before he stood up and finally left the hearing room.