House quad panel to invite Duterte

(UPDATES) A QUAD committee of the House of Representatives will invite former president Rodrigo Duterte to a joint probe on the drug war and Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators.

The joint hearing will start on August 15.

«We will invite the former president to enlighten us on the issue on the war on drugs. And maybe he can shed some information that will be of help in the writing of the committee report, especially in the remedial legislation that we plan to produce,» said Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs.

Antipolo City 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop said Duterte should be given the opportunity to defend himself.

Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr., chairman of the House Committee on Human Rights, said the former president had repeatedly ignored House summons in the past for similar inquiries.

In June, former presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. had said the former president would not attend the committee hearing.

«As guaranteed by our Bill of Rights, Congress cannot compel FPRRD to be a witness against himself,» Roque had said.

«Our former President firmly believes that the Lower House is not the proper forum to investigate any criminal allegation against him. Tatay Digong is unafraid to face all his accusers in any domestic court. He will cooperate and participate in any criminal investigation, provided that Filipino prosecutors conduct the proceeding,» he added.