Duterte expected at House quad comm hearing on drug war

Former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte in last month’s Senate inquiry on his administration’s war on drugs.  (Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives quad committee is expecting the attendance of former president Rodrigo Duterte in its November 7 hearing on his administration’s drug war and alleged extrajudicial killings. 

“I think the invitation was released already to the [former] President,” House Deputy Majority Leader and Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre said in a phone patch interview on Monday. 

“I think the fact that we did send an invitation before warrants that that’s invitation status. And, of course, as how the committee has worked in the past, it’s a big thing that the former president is there to air his side,” he added.  

Last month, Duterte was invited to attend the quad comm to “provide valuable insights” related to the ongoing probe, based on a document signed by quad comm chair and Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Ace Barbers dated October 18.

Last October 28, Duterte confessed during a Senate inquiry that he assembled a seven-man hit squad when he was Davao City mayor.

Duterte also disclosed that he did not tap police officers as they might be in a quandary if they got suspended for operations they conducted.

Duterte also pointed out that the term “death squad” was loosely used, as he revealed that all former national police chiefs, including now-Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, retired police Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao, and retired Gen. Archie Gamboa, and retired Gen. Debold Sinas, led death squads.

He, however, clarified that he had not ordered the summary killing of anyone, stressing that his directive was to provoke suspects to fight back so that they could be killed.

As to the testimonies delivered during the hearings, Acidre said he agrees with Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. that “whatever material, whatever testimony that was taken from the hearings sa Senate, should be recognized” by the mega panel since “all of them were taken under oath.”