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Duterte as he refrains from swearing at House drug war probe
By Nidz Godino
“Please do not answer queries or talk otherwise you are being recognized by the chairman,” Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano (Abang Lingkod Party) reiterated as he was unyielding to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s constant attempts to interrupt lawmakers House of Representatives saw quite toned-down but more gutsy version as he refrained from swearing at House probe into his bloody anti-narcotics campaign.
Unlike Senate’s parallel inquiry, Duterte first attended, House Quad Committee was firm in its word that they would not tolerate profanity-laced responses from the former president.
Mega panel’s chairmen gave him stern warning as early as their opening remarks, saying that lawmakers will make point of order should he disrespect committee.
Rep. Bienvenido Abante (Manila, 6th District) and Paduano consistently held Duterte down at every turn he made to violate House rules.
During most interpellations, Duterte engaged in heated exchanges with lawmakers as he attempted to indirectly answer questions, divert discussion and interrupt them mid-sentence.
Overall chair, Rep. Robert Ace Barbers (Surigao Del Norte, 2nd District), had also listened to every point of order made by his committee members.
Duterte even apologized to Rep. Dan Fernandez (Santa Rosa, Lone District), saying that he respects committee and actually fears them.
This stood in stark contrast to Senate, had been lenient with Duterte, allowing him to speak freely and go off on tangents as much as he pleased.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros, however, urged Senate Blue Ribbon Subcommittee Chair Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III to end Duterte’s ongoing profanity.
Pimentel, however, denied request, believing it was necessary to allow Duterte to explain himself in the manner he was most comfortable with.
But it appears that Duterte is able to speak in calm demeanor, as seen at House probe. No lawmakers at the hearing also defended him or invalidated testimonies of other resource persons.
At the Senate inquiry, Sen. Bato dela Rosa and Sen. Bong Go among individuals facing allegations of implementing war on drugs’ reward system spent most of their time defending their name and Duterte’s.
Whenever resource person made statements damaging to their reputation at the Senate probe, Dela Rosa was quick to interrupt and fire back, even against family members of EJK victims and organizers of projects aimed at assisting victims in their healing.
This was the case with priest Flavie Villanueva, founder of Program Paghilom, who was accused by Dela Rosa of turning his advocacy into propaganda.
Dela Rosa even questioned why families had not filed charges against police responsible for arbitrary killings, despite fact several EJK cases were not investigated by the police.
House probe has obtained some confessions from Duterte on allegations made against him, and not just his admission of “full legal responsibility” over results of the war on drugs.
Among admissions he made were incentivizing anti-illegal drug operations, personally killing suspects, having police plant evidence on suspected criminals and previously searching for Iglesia Ni Cristo member to employ in the drug war.
Nonetheless, Quad Comm has not cited Duterte in contempt, despite many instances he failed to wait for the chair to address him before responding during interpellations.
Only multiple points of order were made.
While Duterte barely swore at hearing, he made gestures of harming other resource persons such as attempts to punch former Sen. Leila de Lima and hit former Sen. Antonio Trillanes with microphone.
This came after De Lima had pointed out how Duterte was lying about not knowing her when he had insulted her several times previously amid his accusations of her involvement in illegal drug trade, even saying that she should “rot in jail.”
As for Trillanes, Duterte would slap him in the face if he were allowed to after former senator bared unofficial documents of the alleged “drug proceeds” that were deposited into Duterte’s account.
The House Quad Comm swiftly stopped his attempt to hit Trillanes and reminded resource persons to maintain proper decorum as they have strictly enforced since beginning of the Wednesday hearing.
Eleventh hearing saw presence of Duterte’s daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio as well. This is also first appearance the former president has made at the House probe after skipping past two hearings.
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