Escudero doesn't want Bato to lead probe into Duterte drug war

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero said Thursday that he advised Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa not to lead any investigation about the Duterte administration's war against illegal drugs.

In an ambush interview in Sorsogon City, Escudero was asked for his reaction about the proposal of Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros to convene the Senate Committee of the Whole amid proposals to investigate the controversial drug campaign.

"Well haharapin namin 'yan sa susunod na mga araw, kokonsultahin ko ang ibang mga miyembro pero nakausap ko na si Senator Bato kaugnay niyan at ang sinabi ko sa kanya, anumang imbestigasyon na nais niya't patungkol sa kanya mismo at kay Senator (Bong) Go, mas maganda siguro kung hindi sila manguna ng komiteng 'yun para walang alegasyon na ito ay personal at hindi impartial at hindi fair," Escudero told reporters.

(We will face that in the coming days, I will consult other members although I already spoke with Senator Bato and I told him that for any investigation about him and Senator Go, it's better that they wouldn't lead that committee so there would be no allegation that it is personal, impartial, and unfair.)

A Senate Committee of the Whole is presided over by the Senate president. Hontiveros said it would be up to the Senate president if senators would invite former President Rodrigo Duterte regarding the drug war under his administration.

Asked about the possible Dela Rosa-led investigation, Hontiveros did not give a direct comment but noted that each senator chairs his or her own committees.

GMA News Online has requested comment from Dela Rosa regarding Escudero's statements.

Dela Rosa earlier said he would launch a motu proprio investigation into the war on drugs with the former president as one of their resource persons.

This developed after Go, a loyal ally of Duterte, mentioned that he was willing to file a resolution to launch a probe into the matter parallel to the investigation by the House Quad Committee.

Police earlier said it would reopen the investigation into several cold cases of local officials killed at the height of the Duterte administration's violent campaign against narcotics. — VDV, GMA Integrated News