Manila: Senate leaders expressed their anticipation for the Department of Justice (DOJ) and other relevant entities to compile former President Rodrigo Duterte’s testimonies from the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s public hearing on his administration’s war on drugs. They see these testimonies as potential evidence for filing cases against him. Senate President Francis Escudero highlighted that Duterte’s statements, previously made in speeches and interviews, were now under oath, making them more significant for potential legal proceedings.
According to Philippines News Agency, Escudero emphasized that even Duterte’s jokes during the hearing were part of his sworn testimonies. He noted, “Ang pinagkaiba kahapon, lahat ng binitiwan niyang salita kahapon ay under oath, pinanumpaan at sinabi nya, yan ay totoo sa abot ng kanyang nalalaman na pwedeng magamit kung saka-sakali pabor o laban sa kanya.” He further explained that lawyers would need to analyze these statements, as the transcripts lack the nuances of faci
al expressions or tone.
Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros expressed her hopes for the DOJ and the International Criminal Court to seriously consider Duterte’s admissions during the hearing. She highlighted his acknowledgment of creating a death squad in Davao City and his attempts to influence police actions against certain individuals. Hontiveros and Duterte had a heated exchange over his controversial stance on encouraging suspects to resist arrest, which she argued was not a solution to crime and drugs.
Hontiveros urged the Office of the President to amend Executive Order 2 s. 2016, issued by Duterte, to allow public access to all records related to the war on drugs, facilitating transparency and accountability.