MANILA – Former President Rodrigo Duterte expressed willingness to appear before the House quad committee investigating the drug war and Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).
In a press conference from Davao City, the former Chief Executive said he is open to appear before the lawmakers but he believed that nothing would come out of their ongoing investigation.
“If it’s their pleasure (to see me attend their committee hearings), why not? If they will invite me, I just hope that they will ask educated questions,” Duterte said.
“What do they want to know? Extrajudicial killings? They’re true. Illegal drugs. That’s why people died, it’s because of illegal drugs,” the former President added.
The House quadcom has already extended a formal invitation to Duterte last month when he was implicated by Davao Prison and Penal Farm inmates Leopoldo Tan Jr. and Fernando Magdadaro in the killing of three Chinese convicted drug lords inside the prison’s maximum security facility.
Duterte, meanwhile, said he was aware of his former officials who were cited in contempt by the House quadcom and he is willing to give them legal representation.
“They will have my support legally,” Duterte said. “Whether right or wrong, if they belong to the police or the military and they ask for my help, I am ready to help.”
“I believe that without the support of the police and the military, I could not have succeeded in transforming Davao into what it is now,” Duterte added./PN
