Former President Rodrigo Duterte is welcome to testify on the succeeding hearings by the House Quad Committee on his role in the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) that happened during his war on drugs campaign, Quad Comm lead chairperson and Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said Sunday.
Barbers reiterated they have standing invitations for Duterte to shed light on the controversial chapters of his administration.
“Actually, they (Duterte’s camp) have been responding to interviews a long time ago. They knew that there was an invitation. Well, anyway, so yes, we have already sent invitations,” said Barbers, who chairs the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs in the Quad Comm.
The lawmaker said they sent Duterte another invitation last week for the two sets of Quad Comm hearings scheduled in the coming weeks. A formal invitation was released for the former president to attend the October 22 hearing.
“In this regard, the Joint Committee respectfully invites you to attend the said inquiry to provide valuable insights and shed light on the issues under discussion particularly on extrajudicial killings,” the Quad Comm notice read.
“We look forward to your valuable contribution to this legislative inquiry,” it further stated.
Barbers mentioned they are expecting two resource persons, who will speak on the alleged reward system.
“Our expected witness could corroborate what (former police colonel Royina) Garma said that money really was paid out for those who killed drug personalities,” Barbers said. He named controversial police officer Jovie Espenido among the reinvited resource persons.
In the previous Quad Comm hearings, Espenido tagged the Philippine National Police (PNP) as a criminal organization.
Barbers said he is convinced that not all casualties in the drug war were victims of EJKs. He said there were some who died because they “really fought back” against law enforcement authorities.
