黑料社

MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The review from the House of Representatives of the Senate鈥檚 turn to scrutinize the six-year drug war waged by former President Rodrigo Duterte was far from flattering.

For two members of the House quad committee, which for the past two months had conducted hearings on the brutal crackdown, the Senate blue ribbon committee allowed two loyal allies of the ex-president to 鈥漣nfluence the proceedings.鈥�

They were referring to senators Ronald 鈥淏ato鈥� dela Rosa and Christopher 鈥淏ong鈥� Go, who joined the hearing that marked the first appearance of former President Rodrigo Duterte in an official body revisiting his campaign that left thousands dead.

READ: Duterte: My PNP chiefs were 鈥榙eath squads鈥� heads

In a press conference on Tuesday, Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante and Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez said the way the two senators conducted themselves 鈥渄iminished the credibility鈥� of Monday鈥檚 opening hearing led by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino 鈥淜oko Pimentel.鈥�

Of Dela Rosa, Abante said: 鈥淭he way he sounded, he was more of a senator-suspect or senator-respondent. There was nothing wrong with that, but he should have seated himself with his former boss (Duterte), who wanted to be called a witness instead of a resource person. That would have been more appropriate than sitting with the investigating panel in order to defend his actions.鈥�

Before entering politics, Dela Rosa served as the first Philippine National Police chief appointed by then-President Duterte, the earliest enforcer of the antinarcotics campaign that left thousands dead.

鈥淭he validity of what seemed to be (Dela Rosa鈥檚) interminable explanations and defenses was also not subjected to questioning. No one questioned him, no one challenged his version of those facts nor his assertions,鈥� Abante added.

Fernandez noted that Dela Rosa ended up 鈥渋nterrogating resource persons鈥� when 鈥渃ommon sense dictates (that you) cannot be part of any investigation that you yourself are involved in.鈥�

鈥淗e is one of the accused, but he is also part of the jury?鈥� he added.

鈥楴别耻迟谤补濒颈锄别鈥�

In the Senate eight-hour hearing, Dela Rosa often interrupted some of the resource persons, including families who lost members in the drug war.

At one point, he also butted heads with human rights lawyer Chel Diokno over the wording of a PNP memo鈥攑articularly on the use of the term 鈥渘eutralize鈥濃�攖hat he issued in 2016 to lay the groundwork for the crackdown.

Dela Rosa, along with Duterte, is among the former PNP top brass being investigated by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for their roles in the drug war.

Go, meanwhile, had also been mentioned in an earlier House quad comm hearing for allegedly facilitating a rewards system for drug war killings using intelligence funds and state lottery revenues during his years as a close Duterte aide.

In his turn to speak at Monday鈥檚 Senate hearing, Go maintained that Duterte鈥檚 鈥渙nly desire was to clean up our country and fight those who sow terror, especially when it comes to illegal drugs.鈥�

鈥淎s far as I know, he has never implemented any system in exchange for anybody鈥檚 life,鈥� he said.

Duterte curses

But Abante and Fernandez also noted how Duterte got away with repeated curses and foul language during the Senate probe.

鈥淚t seems the Senate is not used to a calling point of order,鈥� Abante said, referring to rules of parliament. 鈥淲e should not allow any vulgar statement in this hearing.鈥�

The House quad comm has a standing invitation for Duterte to attend its hearings.

Risa draws praise

Also on Tuesday, former Sen. Panfilo Lacson remarked that the Senate hearing was practically 鈥渋nvaded鈥� by the 79-year-old former leader, but only one senator 鈥渃onsistently and steadfastly stood up to preserve the dignity鈥� of the chamber.

鈥淪he happens to be a woman who answers 鈥榩resent鈥� during a roll call. Her name: Risa Hontiveros,鈥� Lacson said in a post on X.

Former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV agreed, saying Hontiveros was 鈥渢he only bright spot in the Senate hearing (for) standing up to the evil Duterte.鈥�

鈥淭hat鈥檚 the leader! Brave! Intelligent! Excellent!,鈥� Trillanes said of the Senate deputy minority leader in a social media post.

Senate President Francis Escudero, who was not in the hearing, shared the view that Hontiveros 鈥渉andled (the situation) well鈥� when she and Duterte had heated exchanges.

鈥淚 agree when Senator Risa pointed out and reminded the former president and the committee to maintain order in the Senate, stressing that cursing is not normal and foul language should not be part of any proceedings,鈥� he said in a forum.

鈥淲e should not be numb to it and accept it as normal and part of everyday life,鈥� he added. 鈥淭he former President said he was just narrating past incidences where he was cursing. But that may not be true for all the expletives he uttered during the hearing. And it was good that Senator Risa pointed it out.鈥�

Chiz: Koko was fair

Escudero also commended Pimentel for the 鈥渇air鈥� handling of the hearing.

鈥淚 think Senator Koko did a good job more than what I have expected. The role he played yesterday was not easy, and for me, he did his best to preside over that hearing and gave everyone a chance to speak, which is the most important thing,鈥� the Senate leader said.

鈥淭he subcommittee was able to give all resource persons the venue to air their views and positions, especially that it was the first time Duterte testified, under oath, on extra-judicial killings and anti-drug war during his administration. That alone is a big thing for me,鈥� he added.

For lawyers鈥� review

Sought for comment, Pimentel explained that it was just an initial hearing, noting many of the invited resource persons did not show up on Monday.

鈥�(Duterte) was personally present, hence he got to speak鈥� We need those with something to say to appear before the subcommittee because, as I鈥檝e said, we will follow the evidence,鈥� said Pimentel, who was the Senate president in the early years of the Duterte administration, from July 2016 to 2018.

Pimentel said he would like lawyers, whether in the government or not, to go over what Duterte said under oath.

鈥淎ll those interested in the issue should act now. The Senate committee is only a venue or avenue to gather other forms of evidence. The former president鈥檚 words will have to be analyzed by experts in criminal law as to their overall value as evidence,鈥� he added.