Escudero on Duterte’s cursing: Senate will not tolerate it

Senate President Francis Escudero during the Kapihan sa Senado forum on Tuesday, October 29, 2024. Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Francis Escudero on Tuesday commended Sen. Risa Hontiveros for calling out former President Rodrigo Duterte’s profanity at the Senate drug war probe on Monday.

Escudero said the Senate would never tolerate profanity, especially during public hearings as the public should not get used to foul language.

Duterte repeatedly cussed while explaining his stance against illegal drugs and criminality.

READ: Hontiveros calls out Duterte’s profanity at Senate probe

“It was good that Sen. Risa pointed it out because I don’t want the Senate, society, or all of us to be numb to think that it’s okay. That’s not okay,” he said in Filipino at the Kapihan sa Senado forum.

“The former President’s answer was he was just telling a story and in his story, he cursed. I guess that’s not true, with all the swearing he did,” he added.

Duterte has defended his profanity, saying cursing in public is not a crime.

Duterte’s appearance before the Senate marks his first attendance in a congressional inquiry into his administration’s drug war dubbed as Oplan Tokhang.

The International Criminal Court has been investigating the drug war due to reports on extrajudicial killings allegedly committed during the anti-narcotics campaign.