MANILA: Senate President Francis Escudero expressed confidence in the impartiality of the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee’s motu proprio investigation into the Duterte administration’s controversial war on drugs, despite the participation of Senators Ronald Dela Rosa and Christopher Go, who have been implicated in the matter. Escudero asserted that the fairness of the proceedings, set to commence on October 28 under the leadership of Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III, would ultimately be judged by the public.
According to Philippines News Agency, Escudero emphasized during a press briefing that the Blue Ribbon Committee’s involvement, even during the Senate’s recess, reflects a commitment to fair and transparent proceedings. He noted that Dela Rosa and Go, while allowed to attend and defend themselves, would also have the opportunity to question resource persons, provided they do so under oath as members of the Senate.
Escudero further remarked that the hearings offer Dela Rosa and Go a chance to
present their perspectives in the absence of their required attendance at the House of Representatives hearings, due to inter-chamber courtesy. Meanwhile, Pimentel, in a separate interview, assured that the Senate investigation would be conducted objectively, focusing on the Philippine war on illegal drugs, rather than solely on the Duterte administration’s actions.
The first public hearing is expected to feature a range of resource persons, including families of alleged extrajudicial killings victims, retired police colonels Royina Garma and Edilberto Leonardo, former president Rodrigo Duterte, self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, former senator Leila de Lima, and Col. Jovie Espenido.