House quad comm invites Duterte to drug war probe

MANILA, Philippines — The quad committee of the House of Representatives has invited former president Rodrigo Duterte to attend its next hearing tomorrow to shed light on allegations that he implemented a reward system for extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during his term.

“The joint committee respectfully invites you to attend the inquiry to provide valuable insights and shed light on the issues under discussion, particularly the EJKs,” read a portion of the one-page document dated Oct. 18 and signed by lead chairman Rep. Robert Ace Barbers.

Meanwhile, Senate President Francis Escudero said yesterday that the Senate Blue Ribbon committee would investigate the Duterte administration’s drug war, parallel to the inquiry being done by the quad committee.

Escudero said Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III will spearhead proceedings in a Blue Ribbon subcommittee, since its chairperson, Sen. Pia Cayetano, is busy campaigning for reelection.

Barbers asked Duterte, if he has a presentation or opening statement, to submit it to the quad secretariat beforehand.

The hearing will start at 9:30 a.m. when the four committees – dangerous drugs, public order and safety, human rights and public accounts – will resume for purposes of conducting a further probe on EJKs, which retired police colonel Royina Garma exposed as having a systematic reward system. 

The joint committee also instructed newly assigned Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief, Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, to assist the House in “ensuring” that the invitation to Duterte will be received by him, or his “representative in his residence in Davao City.”  

Torre was known for his no-nonsense approach in arresting fugitive pastor Apollo Quiboloy last month.

Rep. Jude Acidre of party-list Tingog, for his part, expects “more explosive testimonies” from Garma – a very loyal and trusted aide of Duterte whom he appointed as general manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) – when the quad comm hearing resumes. 

“Her testimonies lay bare what many have feared: that the so-called war on drugs wasn’t just a campaign against crime – it was a state-sanctioned