Senate drug war probe set for Oct. 28 —Pimentel

The Senate investigation into the killings being linked to the government's war on drugs is set to start on October 28, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said.

Pimentel, who will preside over the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s investigation, said among those will be invited are former President Rodrigo Duterte, retired Police Colonel Royina Garma, former National Police Commission commissioner Edilberto Leonardo, former Senator Leila de Lima, Kerwin Espinosa, and the families of drug war victims.

Pimentel earlier said that they will fast-track the investigation as the Senate is set to hold plenary debates on the proposed 2025 national budget when it resumes sessions on November 4.

On the call for Senators Bong Go and Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa — both staunch allies of Duterte — to take indefinite leave amid the Senate investigation, Pimentel said, “[T]heir presence should not affect the credibility of the probe.”

“They are not going to preside. And we have to encourage other senators to show interest in the probe,” he added.

Pimentel also dismissed the idea for the House of Representatives and the Senate to conduct a joint investigation into the drug war.

“Good idea but very hard to implement because of scheduling problem,” Pimentel said.

The House Quad Committee had conducted several hearings into the Duterte administration’s war on drugs where Go and Dela Rosa are implicated in the alleged reward system for its nationwide implementation. 

The allegations against Go, meanwhile, prompted him to call for a parallel investigation, which Dela Rosa backed. 

Dela Rosa, who was national police chief during the Duterte administration, floated a parallel motu proprio investigation under the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, which he chairs. 

Dela Rosa’s proposed investigation was declined by the Senate leadership with Senate President Francis Escudero citing the rule that only the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee can conduct motu proprio probes.

It was then agreed by Escudero, Go, and Dela Rosa that the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee will lead the investigation with Pimentel as the presiding officer as its chairperson, Senator Pia Cayetano, is attending an energy-related conference abroad. —KBK, GMA Integrated News