Chiz: Ex-prez Duterte to get due courtesy in Senate drug war probe

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero on Tuesday said that former president Rodrigo Duterte will be given due courtesy should he attend the Blue Ribbon Committee's investigation into his administration's war on drugs.

"Dahil dati siyang pangulo, inaasahan ko na sa parte ng mga miyembro ng Senado, bibigyan siya ng karampatang paggalang hindi lamang bilang tao, hindi lamang bilang Pilipino, pero bilang dating pangulo ng ating bansa," Escudero said in a press conference.

(Since he is a former president, I expect the members of the Senate to give him the respect due not only as a person, not only as a Filipino, but also as the former president of our country.)

"Sinuman ang resource person, dating pangulo man o ordinaryong Pilipino, marapat tratuhin ng may paggalang,  respeto, at buong pagkilala sa kanyang mga karapatang pantao sa ilalim ng Saligang Batas natin," he stressed.

(Regardless of whether the resource person is a former president or an ordinary Filipino, they deserve to be treated with respect, dignity, and full recognition of their human rights under our Constitution.)

For the Senate president, the former president's attendance in the Senate investigation is part of democracy and noted that Duterte is not the first former Philippine president who will face a legislative inquiry.

"Inaasahan ko magkakaroon ng maliwanag, payapa at komprehensibong palitan ng pananaw at pagbibigay ng impormasyon na hindi kailangang dumating sa anumang away, bangayan o init ng ulo," he said.

(I hope for a clear, peaceful, and comprehensive exchange of views and information that does not have to lead to any quarrel, argument, or heated emotions.)

"Ito ang unang pagkakataon kung saka-sakali na siya'y mag-a-attend sa anumang uri ng pagdinig kaugnay sa kanyang mga ginawa o hindi ginawa noong siya ay pangulo pa," he added.

(That's the first time, if ever, that he might attend any kind of hearing related to his actions or inactions while he was still president.)

Duterte, being a former member of Congress prior to his presidency, "knows the rules of procedure," Escudero said.

Escudero likewise entrusted the entire investigation to Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, who will be presiding over the hearings in the stead of its chairperson Senator Pia Cayetano.

Meanwhile, Escudero said that his colleagues—Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa and Senator Bong Go, both close allies of the former president—will be given the chance to ask or assert their personal knowledge on the matter.

However, the Senate president said they should always keep in mind that they are members of the chamber even though they are also implicated in the allegations related to the drug war.

"Dapat nalalaman na rin nila 'yung papel na dapat nilang gampanan bilang myembro ng Senado at bilang isa rin sa inaakusahan. Pag dumating 'yung punto na sila ay magsasalita kaugnay sa anumang personal knowledge na alam nila kaugnay sa pinaguusapan sa pagdinig, I will presume that they will be stating these facts on their oath as a member of the Senate without the need of actually taking their oath," he said.

(They should also be aware of the role they need to play as a member of the Senate and as one of the accused parties. When the point is reached where they will be speaking about their personal knowledge on a matter being discussed during the hearing, I will presume that they will be stating these facts on their oath as a member of the Senate, without the need of actually taking their oath.)

The Senate Blue Ribbon investigation into the drug war-related killings from Duterte's administration up to the present is scheduled on October 28.

Apart from the former president, Pimentel said 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 will be invited.

Dela Rosa, a close ally and chief implementer of the drug war during the last administration, said that Duterte gave him the assurance that he will attend the Senate probe "regardless of who is presiding." — BM, GMA Integrated News