Continuation of QuadComm drug war probe moved to next week

The House Quad Committee (QuadComm) has postponed its November 13 hearing on the Duterte administration's bloody drug war amid ongoing verification of witnesses' testimonies.

According to QuadComm chairmen Representaives Robert Ace Barbers
of Surigao del Norte, Dan Fernandez of Santa Rosa, Laguna, and Benny Abante, the decision to postpone the hearing was reached on Monday, November 11.

"We want our witnesses to issue affidavits and after they executed their affidavits, we need to vet them. Because a lot of people want to testify before the QuadComm, we deemed it best to evaluate, interview the witnesses first, see who is credible," Barbers said in a press conference on Tuesday.

"And that would take a lot of time," he added.

The next QuadComm probe is set for November 21. 

Former President Rodrigo Duterte has been invited to attend the now-postponed November 13 hearing.

In a press conference in Davao City last week, Duterte said he has nothing left to explain about his administration's drug war and does not have enough money to go to Manila to face the QuadComm. 

But according to Barbers, the committee is willing to shoulder the travel and accommodation expenses of Duterte and his delegation.

"Kung sa mga pamasahe naman, nag-usap-usap ang mga chairman, ang pinakamalaking ambag ay si Congressman Dan [Fernandez], gusto namin malaman kung ilan sila so that we can also accommodate [iyong pamasahe]... at ma-arrange din po yung mga accommodations," he said during Tuesday's press briefing.
 
(If it concerns the fare, we talked about it and we’ll chip in, with the biggest coming from Congressman Dan Fernandez. We’d like to know how many of their party are attending and we'll also providing accommodations.)

Lawyer Salvador Panelo, who was presidential spokesperson during the Duterte administration, said the former leader was ready to face the QuadComm on November 13.

Fernandez, for his part, said he is hoping Duterte would be able to attend next week's hearing.

"We are governed by the rule of law and we are governed by the rules of the committee. And I hope that if the President would really attend, now is the right time to notify the committee, especially November 21 pa naman 'yan, malayo pa, Thursday pa (November 21, Thursday, is still too far). So, we have all the time para i-prepare," he said. —KBK, GMA Integrated News