Metro Manila, Philippines — A contempt order on former President Rodrigo Duterte is not an option amid his failure to attend the House of Representatives drug war probe, said quad committee co-chairperson Rep. Ace Barbers (Surigao del Norte, 2nd district) on Monday, Nov. 11
In an interview with NewsWatch Plus, Barbers said Duterte should be accorded “courtesy” as a former president. In contrast, Duterte has attended the first drug war hearing of the Senate.“I don’t believe it’s (contempt) an option,” Barbers said, adding that the committee did not discuss citing the former president in contempt.“Lagi kong sinasabi yun, in deference to the former president, I think we should extend to him all the maximum courtesy so to speak, nang sa ganun, intindihan din natin number one, yung kanyang health. Number two, yung kanyang edad,” he added.[Translation:I always say that, in deference to the former president, I think we should extend to him the utmost courtesy so that we can understand, number one, his health, and number two, his age]Duterte previously stated that traveling to Manila is costly for him and that he has nothing to add to his statements in the Senate.House lawmakers have expressed willingness to cover the former president’s travel expenses.“Kasi siyempre naintindihan din naman natin na tama nga naman na siya ay retired na at maaaring malaking gastos kapag siya po ay bumabiyahe mula Davao hanggang Manila. At hindi naman po siya nag-iisa dahil marami pong mga security escorts ang ating dating Pangulo. Kaya napag-usapan ng mga miembro na mag-ambag-ambag ang lahat ang sa ganun mabigyan ng tamang security ang ating dating Pangulo kung siya ay pupunta rito sa quad comm hearing,” Barbers said.[Translation: Of course, we understand that it makes sense, given that he’s retired, and it may be costly for him to travel from Davao to Manila. And he wouldn’t be traveling alone, as our former President has numerous security escorts. So the members discussed contributing so that we can ensure proper security for him if he attends the quad comm hearing] The lawmaker added that this offer has been communicated to Duterte’s camp.“I believe it has already been manifested by the members, including the chairs of the quad com dahil nga nasabi doon na kung yan ang problema ay madaling tugunan, madaling solusyonan ang problema niyan. Kung kaya nag-usap-usap ang lahat na mag-ambag-ambag para magkaroon ng solusyon niyang problema niyan ng ating dating pangulo,” said Barbers.
