MANILA, Philippines — House lawmakers are considering inviting former President Rodrigo Duterte to the quadcom’s investigation into drug-related extrajudicial killings after his name was mentioned by several implicated resource persons.
At a press briefing on Wednesday, October 9, Rep. Bienvenido Abante (Manila, 6th District) said that the joint committee may invite Duterte “by the next hearing on EJKs.”
Abante, who co-chairs the House quadcom, expressed his appreciation for Duterte’s openness to attend.
Duterte told reporters at a press conference on October 5 that he is willing to attend the congressional probe into his administration’s EJKs but also hopes lawmakers “would ask educated questions.”
However, Abante said that the quadcom may not invite him at this time, given the number of resource persons already invited and have yet to be questioned in connection with retired police chief Royina Garma’s cases.
Meanwhile, Rep. Dan Fernandez (Santa Rosa, Lone District), another co-chair of the quadcom, clarified to Philstar.com that the House mega panel’s investigation is a “continuing invitation” for Duterte.
Fernandez explained that having the former president attend one of the hearings would give him the opportunity “to shed light on many issues” surrounding extrajudicial killings and to defend himself against the allegations made by victims of the drug war.
“It is a continuing invitation for the former president … that will give a better view for us to recommend better legislation and also for the former president to ventilate his position on some allegations pertaining to what the victims of the war on drugs were saying,” he said.
Some resource persons and victims of Duterte’s war on drugs allege that the former president is responsible for all the killings.
“I think it is high time and a welcome recourse for him to be present at the hearing of the quadcom,” Fernandez added.
When was Duterte mentioned?
Dismissed police lieutenant colonel Santie Mendoza said during the seventh hearing that he “felt pressured” to carry out the assassination of Wesley Barayuga, the former board secretary of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
He attributed the pressure to the close relationship between former PCSO general manager Garma, National Police Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo, and Duterte.
Duterte had also appointed Garma to the PCSO in 2019 and Leonardo to the Napolcom in 2022.
According to Abante, he believes Leonardo has already resigned from his post as administrative charges are being prepared against him.
RELATED: Witness: Ex-PCSO, Napolcom execs allegedly ordered Barayuga’s assassination
The former president’s name was also mentioned by Bureau of Corrections Senior Superintendent Gerardo Padilla in relation to the killing of three alleged Chinese drug lords in 2016.
Padilla said that Duterte personally congratulated him after the three Chinese nationals were murdered in the Davao Prison and Penal Farm.
“Job well done,” was what he recalled Duterte telling him.
It was also Padilla, along with the two inmates who testified on the assassination, who implicated Garma as the mastermind behind the operation in 2016.
RELATED: BuCor exec confirms inmates’ claim: Duterte applauded Chinese drug lord killings
While the House joint committee aims to conclude its hearings this Friday, October 11, Abante said that the quadcom’s investigation may continue if more requests from non-government organizations and other victims “crying out for justice” arise.
“The quadcom hearing, as I mentioned, is not only in aid of legislation but also in aid of prosecution, because it’s necessary to prosecute those who are guilty. We shouldn’t only be preparing legislation on this matter,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.
House lawmakers have also urged the Department of Justice on October 2 to charge Garma and Leonardo for murder, even before the quadcom submits its recommendations for filing charges.
The House mega panel will focus its investigation into the allegations against Garma, which include the assassination of Barayuga, the killing of three Chinese nationals, and the use of the PCSO’s small-town lottery to fund the reward system for police officials involved in the drug war.
