Four House joint committees plan to extend another invitation to former president Rodrigo Duterte, asking him to testify in the ongoing probe into alleged extrajudicial killings during his administration’s war on drugs.
This decision follows accusations from former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Mabilog, who claims his inclusion in Duterte’s controversial “narcolist” was politically motivated, stemming from his refusal to support Duterte in the 2016 elections. Mabilog also revealed that former PNP chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa summoned him to Camp Crame, a move he felt put his life at risk.
In a Sunday interview with Super Radyo dzBB, Manila Representative Benny Abante, co-chair of the House Quad Committee, explained the rationale for inviting Duterte. “Since some witnesses have accused him, he is the only one who can clear his name,” Abante said.
Abante emphasized that the former president would not be held in contempt or subjected to a show cause order if he refuses the invitation. Both Duterte and Dela Rosa declined previous invitations to appear before the committee.
The joint committee believes that Mabilog was not involved in illegal drug activities and is seeking to hold those responsible for framing the former mayor accountable. The lawmakers hope to uncover the mastermind behind the extrajudicial killings that occurred during the drug war.
“We’re not treating him as a suspect or accused. We want him to clarify what happened in the war on drugs, where thousands were killed, accused, or died,” Abante added.
Human rights lawyer Chel Diokno estimates that over 20,000 people were killed in the anti-drug campaign, citing a 2017 year-end report from the Duterte administration. GMA News Online has reached out to key figures from Duterte’s former administration but has yet to receive a response.