QuadComm leaders call out Senate subpanel for allowing Duterte to curse during drug probe

Leaders of the House Quad Committee (QuadComm) on Thursday called out the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee for allowing former President Rodrigo Duterte use foul language during its probe into his administration's drug war.

"Nakakahiya tayo… wala man lang nag-stand [up among them Senators] para i-delete o tanggalin 'yon sa record ng Senado?" said Laguna Representative Dan Fernandez in a statement, noting that legislative records are part of history and should be free from inappropriate language.

(That was an embarrassing moment and nobody even moved to strike them off Senate records.)

Manila Representative Bienvenido Abante, another QuadComm leader, said Duterte's vulgarity during the hearing was unbecoming of a former president. He added that more than Duterte's bad language, the context of his profanity-laden remarks was more disturbing as he was saying it to justify the killings under his drug war.

"We should not allow any vulgar statements," Abante added.

During the nine-hour hearing last Monday, Duterte repeatedly hurled expletives to defend his anti-drug campaign from accusations that it led to thousands of unnecessary killings.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, who was at the hearing, called out Duterte for his language, prompting Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, who was presiding over the proceedings, to advise the former leader to cease from uttering profanities.

Duterte would later on apologize to Hontiveros, saying she was just being sensitive. Hontiveros, however, countered that she was not being sensitive, saying she just did not want such language to be used when discussing serious topics like extrajudicial killings.

Senate President Francis Escudero earlier said cursing should not be a part of any proceedings.

“Ang pagmumura ay hindi normal. Ang pagmumura ay hindi parte ng anumang proceedings, at hindi dapat maging bahagi ng araw-araw nating pamumuhay,” Escudero said.

(Cursing is not normal and it should not be part of any proceedings. We should not consider it as something normal.)

In response to the House QuadComm chairpersons' comments, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III said Duterte's cursing is the least of the nation's worries given Duterte's statements during the Senate probe.

"Why focus on decorum? Look at the substance," Pimentel told GMA News Online. —KBK/RSJ, GMA Integrated News