Lawmaker pushes joint Senate-House probe on Duterte drug war

Metro Manila, Philippines — A lawmaker has proposed a joint congressional inquiry on the Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs and alleged extrajudicial killings (EJK).

The House quad committee, co-chaired by Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Ace Barbers, has been conducting a series of hearings on the issue.

The Senate, meanwhile, will launch its own probe to be led by the Blue Ribbon committee, which will be chaired by Senator Pia Cayetano.

Barbers said a joint probe will show impartiality.

“Kung meron ang Senate, meron din ang House, ba't 'di na lang natin pag-isahin parang bicam (bicameral conference committee) ang dating? Isang joint committee hearing, nandiyan ang Kongreso, nandiyan ang Senado, at nandiyan 'yung ating imbestigasyon,” Barbers said in a briefing.

[Translation: If the Senate will have an investigation, and the House has one, why don’t we just merge it just like a bicameral conference committee? One joint committee hearing where the House and Senate are present for the investigation.]

“I think mas malawak, mas komprehensibo, at syempre mas maraming mga intelligent questions na maitatanong ng mga miyembro nitong komiteng ito,” he added.

[Translation: I think it will have a wider scope and will be more comprehensive. Of course, more committee members will raise intelligent questions.]

Santa Rosa, Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez agreed with Barbers.

“Mas maganda po para mapabilis po 'yung atin pong kilos ay magsama na po ang Senado at Kongreso,” he said.

[Translation: It would be better to have a joint probe of the Senate and House to hasten our actions.]

Meanwhile, senators were not keen on the idea.

“While tempting… unfortunately, we have no provision in our rules providing for such a ‘joint investigation,’” Senate President Chiz Escudero said.

“Mahirap implement. Atsaka iba na stage ng investigation nila. Advanced na sila,” said Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel, who will preside over the Senate probe.

[Translation: It will be difficult to implement. Their investigation is already at an advanced stage.]

House lawmakers earlier filed a bill seeking to classify EJK as a heinous crime.

In the last quad committee hearing, PCol Royina Garma (ret.) said the former president rewarded cops who killed drug suspects. Duterte has denied the claim.

The panel will hold another investigation on Tuesday, Oct. 22, and has sent an invitation to the former president.