DUTERTE SAYS NO
FORMER President Rodrigo Roa Duterte refused to attend the House Quad Committee, that investigates his drug war and extrajudicial killings during his term.
Through his lawyer Leo Delgra, Duterte sent a three-page letter to quad committee over-all chairman Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers citing his reasons for not attending the hearing scheduled today.
While he respects and recognizes the authority of the Honorable committees to conduct inquiries, in aid of legislation, the former president said he cannot attend the hearing.
First, Duterte said he doubts the quad comm’s integrity, independence and probity to conduct the legislative inquiry.
“While my client’s attendance is supposedly for him to provide valuable insights and to shed light on issues under discussion particularly on extra-judicial killings, it is apparent that the inquiry is a mere political ploy aimed to indict him for crime or crimes he did not commit,” the letter of his lawyer read.
Duterte also cited co-chairpersons Bienvenido Abante Jr. and Dan Fernandez, among the Joint Committee members, their positions that he should be held liable for the crime of “willful killing” under Section 6 of Republic Act No. 9851 or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide and Other Crimes Against Humanity, even alleging that the facts are clear.
Second, Duterte has pointed out how the committee tried to persuade, if not unduly pressure, resource person to admit matters under oath.
“My client, a former city prosecutor, even offered an opinion that it was a case of subornation, an act of inducing someone to commit perjury. Said statement if indeed true, casts doubt as to the Honorable House Quad Committee’s integrity and impartiality,” the letter added.
Likewise, Duterte said that he already appeared before the Senate hearing last October 28 wherein he extensively discussed and shared his knowledge as to the alleged extrajudicial killings.
The House Quad Committee has invited the former President to answer the revelation of former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office General manager Col. Royina Garma that “reward system” has been implemented during the war on drug.
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