Duterte won't face House probe on drug war deaths, says lawyer

Former President Rodrigo Duterte will not be facing the House Quad Committee probe on the drug war killings during his administration on Thursday, November 7, contrary to his camp's statement that he will attend after November 1. 

In a letter to QuadComm on Tuesday, Martin Delgra III, counsel for Duterte, said his client doubts the competence of the panel to conduct the probe.

“Regrettably, upon consultation with him, my client respectfully manifests that while he respects and recognizes the authority of the Honorable Committees to conduct inquiries, in aid of legislation, he  cannot attend the public hearing as scheduled for the following  reasons. First, with all due respect, my client is already doubtful as to the Honorable House Quad Committee’s integrity, independence, and probity to conduct the legislative inquiry in aid of legislation,” Delgra said.

“While my client’s attendance is supposedly for him to provide valuable insights and to shed light on issues under discussion particularly on  extra-judicial killings, it is apparent that the inquiry is a mere political ploy aimed to indict him for crime or crimes he did not commit,” he added.

Further, Delgra said the former president already faced the Senate probe on the drug war last October 28 wherein the former leader “extensively discussed and shared his knowledge as to the alleged extrajudicial killings during his administration.”

“More importantly, he gave valuable inputs on how  to strengthen the war on illegal drugs, a demonizing element and national menace,” he said.

During the Senate hearing, Duterte admitted to having a death squad and ordering police officials to encourage suspects to resist arrest so the police can kill them. 

The former president also that he has been killing for quite a while and it is surprising that the Justice department is yet to file charges against him.

Duterte and other top officials of his administration are already being investigated by the ICC in connection with the alleged commission of crimes against humanity for systematic drug war deaths in police operations during his tenure.

These deaths reached around 6,000 based on police records, but human rights groups contend that the deaths reached as much as 30,000, including vigilante killings, due to Duterte's policy.—AOL, GMA Integrated News