The House Quad Committee (Quadcom) will respect former President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision not to attend the ongoing hearings on extrajudicial killings (EJK), the illegal drug trade, and Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).
According to Committee Chair Rep. Ace Barbers, if the former president had attended, the committee would have extended the respect due to him as a former head of state. However, they will honor his decision to decline the invitation.
Barbers noted that the committee considers it a great honor if Duterte were to attend, though they will not cite him in contempt, out of respect for his former position.
The former president had been invited to the hearings due to his alleged connection to the series of killings during the height of the drug war, including the deaths of three Chinese drug lords at the Davao Prison and Penal Farm in Davao del Norte.
Rep. Barbers confirmed that the invitation to Duterte had been sent when his name first came up during the investigation.
The committee may include several names in its final report, based on testimonies and evidence gathered during the hearings, and the results will be shared with government agencies and courts for further investigation.