Pimentel bats for parallel Senate probe into Duterte admin drug war

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III  (Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)

MANILA, Philippines — A parallel investigation in the Senate regarding the previous administration’s brutal drug war would grant the government an opportunity to test the reliability of witnesses that appeared before the lower chamber, at least according to Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III.

In a text message to reporters on Tuesday, Pimentel said a Senate probe parallel to the House of Representatives’ Quad Committee is not mandatory, but said that it would be beneficial.

“Yes that is optional, but looks like a good idea to me because it will give us the opportunity to ask cross examination questions to test the credibility of the witnesses,” said Pimentel.

Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, a close ally of former President Rodrigo Duterte, earlier  said that he is mulling the filing of a resolution to kickstart a Senate probe into  the bloody war on drugs. 

He said this could help shed light on the benefits of the controversial drug campaign.

Pimentel, meanwhile, was pressed to elaborate why there is a need to conduct a parallel probe, but he just said that new witnesses could be called should the Senate push through with the investigation.