Surigao del Norte 2nd District Representative Ace Barbers, chairman of the House of Representatives quad committee, announced that the panel would respect former President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision if he chooses not to attend the investigation into alleged extrajudicial killings during his administration’s war on drugs.
Last month, the committee approved a motion to invite Duterte following allegations linking him to the 2016 murders of three convicted Chinese drug lords.
When asked how the committee would respond if Duterte skips the inquiry, Barbers stated, “We will extend the courtesy due to the former president.” He emphasized that this courtesy is not “special treatment,” noting that other witnesses have faced contempt charges for evading testimony.
“There is no special treatment. This is in deference to him being the former president,” Barbers clarified, adding that Duterte’s right to decline attendance would be respected.
Duterte and other officials from his administration are currently under investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity connected to the drug war, which left around 6,000 dead, according to police records. Human rights groups argue the death toll may be as high as 30,000, including vigilante killings.
Despite the ongoing ICC probe, Duterte maintains that the Philippines is no longer under the court’s jurisdiction, citing the country’s withdrawal from the Rome Statute in March 2019.