House probe on Duterte drug war resumes Thursday

MANILA, Philippines — After former president Rodrigo Duterte’s testimony at the Senate last week, the House of Representatives will resume its probe on the alleged extrajudicial killings (EJK) during his six-year administration, hoping he will appear.

House quad committee panel presiding officer and Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said they are still uncertain about the former leader’s personal appearance, but they have sent another invitation, especially since he had already showed up at the EJK inquiry of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee.

Duterte’s legal counsel Martin Delgra III, who served as the former leader’s Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chief, promised the quad committee earlier that his client would attend the hearings after All Saints’ Day.

“Rest assured of my client’s willingness to appear before the House on some other available date, preferably after Nov. 1,” Delgra promised after he declined to attend the Oct. 22 hearing, citing health reasons and short notice.

“Considering his advanced age and the several engagements he had to attend, he is currently not feeling well and is in need of much rest. Hence, my client respectfully request to defer his appearance before the honorable committee,” he stated in a two-page letter.

Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante, quad comm co-chairman who also heads the House committee on human rights, has observed that Duterte did not seem to be of frail health when he attended the Senate probe, and was, in fact, or in effect calling the shots during his testimony.

House Majority Leader and Zamboanga City 2nd District Manuel Jose Dalipe said the House would continue to exercise its oversight power through its various committees, including the quad comm, the panel of good government and public accountability, and the quinta comm created before the recess in September.

“We remain steadfast in protecting our people from abuses and in exposing acts of wrongdoing in the government,” Dalipe added.

He also disclosed that the quad comm is set to hold this month additional hearings on the bloody war on drugs of the Duterte administration and EJKs tied to it, illegal Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGOs) and the drug menace, among other issues.

Concerns on VP Sara’s accountability

Meanwhile, two prominent leaders from the “Young Guns” clique of the House have raised serious concerns on Vice President Sara Duterte’s accountability to the public, describing the situation as a growing issue in public perception.

Zambales 1st District Rep. Jay Khonghun and La Union 1st District Rep. Paolo Ortega V said Filipinos are seeking clear answers about the controversies surrounding Duterte’s questionable use of confidential funds, both in her current role and during her tenure as secretary of the Department of Education.

“Duterte’s dropping trust ratings signal a critical problem in the way people see her,” Khonghun said.

“When a public official faces controversies that go unexplained, people find it hard to trust them. If these issues aren’t addressed, it could seriously damage her credibility over the long term,” he added.

Recent data from the OCTA Research survey reflected a six-point decline in Duterte’s trust rating, now at 59 percent, and an eight-point drop in her performance rating, which has fallen to 52 percent from a previous high of 87 percent last year.

Ortega observed that Duterte’s steep drop in ratings highlights how public trust can erode when accountability is ignored.

“From a high of 87 percent in March 2023 to 59 percent today, that’s a big drop,” Ortega pointed out.

“People want leaders they can trust. To keep the public’s confidence, leaders need to be open and transparent,” he added.

The House assistant majority leader also stressed that ignoring these controversies could undermine Duterte’s credibility if she intends to stay in public service.

“Silence is not an option, especially when the public is watching closely,” Ortega said.