Senate Musings on Duterte’s Drug War: A Chaotic Comedy of Errors
Ah, the Senate! Such a grand spectacle—an arena where political gladiators duel with rhetoric sharper than a bottle of cheap wine. And what’s on the agenda today, you ask? Just a light chat about former President Rodrigo Duterte and his controversial drug war, which is as pleasant as discussing your mother-in-law’s cooking.
Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel, with all the charm of a well-executed pratfall, stated the obvious: he doesn’t see a pressing need for the former president to make a cameo at the next hearing. Coming from a man named Koko, you might be tempted to think he’s serving up some deliciously flaky pastries instead of making serious political judgments. He said, “If some senators see the need then if they manifest it, I will entertain the idea.” A classic case of trying to give us a peek into the Senate’s whisperings while sounding a bit like a baffled parent debating whether to let the kids have dessert before dinner.
Now, speaking of drama, Monday’s hearing saw Duterte playing the role of an unrepentant rock star, boldly asserting he would not apologize for his bloody legacy. Instead, he would take “full, legal responsibility.” The man knows how to embrace a stage, I’ll give him that! He even threw in an admission of a ‘death squad’—not the police, mind you, but “gangsters.” I suppose that’s one way to keep your hands clean, right? You just outsource the killing!
When asked about how they plan to sift through Duterte’s treasure chest of admissions, Pimentel, a man seemingly quite comfortable in his role as the Senate’s own Sherlock Holmes, mentioned that “we have a lot of material to work with.” I like to think of this “material” as the equivalent of a political wet blanket: all those bits and pieces of evidence lying around, waiting for a passionate investigator to ignite them into a roaring fire of accountability.
As the plot unfolds, Pimentel promises that there’s no set date for the sequel, but hopes to see retired police colonels Royina Garma and Edilberto Leonardo grace the hearings soon. You can almost hear the audience gasping with anticipation—will they or won’t they attend? It’s like waiting for the next episode of a reality show where everyone’s already living a nightmare.
Then we have Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito offering his sage advice, suggesting they wrap this probe up faster than you can say “political theater.” He argues that the justice system should handle it now because a Senate inquiry is no place for closure—it’s basically the circus with clowns stuck in the middle of a soap opera. Pimentel, feigning surprise, actually agrees! Wonders will never cease in this convoluted drama.
Meanwhile, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa is still waiting for his chance to shine, as he insists the show must go on until the “resource persons” implicating him appear. Ah, yes, the necessity of evidence is a bit like waiting for the last drop of espresso—you know they’re going to make an appearance eventually, but not without keeping everyone on the edge of their seats first.
As we conclude this riveting tale of inter-senatorial triviality, it’s clear that the Senate remains a fascinating mix of high drama and hilariously unfortunate timing. It’s the relentless pursuit of the truth wrapped in layers of political posturing, ego, and the distinct possibility that we’re all being played for fools.
So, as we keep our eyes peeled for the next hearing, here’s hoping for a round of applause for our Senate. Because if anyone can turn tragedy into comedy, it’s surely them!
Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel expressed on Wednesday that he currently does not see any compelling reason for former President Rodrigo Duterte to attend the forthcoming Senate hearing regarding his administration’s contentious campaign against illegal drugs, a program that has faced substantial scrutiny and criticism.
“As of the moment, I see no need,” Pimentel stated in a message to reporters, indicating that the decision to summon Duterte would rely on the consensus of other senators. “If some senators see the need then if they manifest it, I will entertain the idea. But as of the moment, no one has,” he added, suggesting a wait-and-see approach while the investigation continues.
Pimentel is at the helm of the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee, tasked with investigating the various aspects of the controversial war on drugs, which has been marred by claims of extrajudicial killings and human rights violations.
During a marathon hearing on Monday, Duterte remained defiant, stating unequivocally that he will not apologize for the violent tactics employed during his administration’s drug war. He further claimed he would take “full, legal responsibility” for his actions.
In a startling admission, Duterte noted the existence of a ‘death squad’, which, according to him, was composed not of police officers but of individuals he referred to as “gangsters.” This revelation has raised further questions regarding the involvement of organized crime in the anti-drug operations conducted during his presidency.
When questioned about the mechanisms the Senate would employ to verify the claims made by Duterte, Pimentel assured reporters that they would diligently examine the substantial body of evidence already collected for the inquiry. “We have a lot of material to work with. Let the material stay. Let criminal law experts study very well the material with the committee,” he elaborated, emphasizing the importance of thorough investigation.
Furthermore, Pimentel indicated that no formal schedule had been established for the next hearing, but expressed hope that retired police colonels Royina Garma and Edilberto Leonardo would soon appear before the committee to provide their insights.
The Blue Ribbon subcommittee had previously issued subpoenas to Garma and Leonardo following their failure to attend the hearing, despite having already testified in a related investigation conducted by the House of Representatives Quad Committee.
Garma had earlier testified that Duterte aimed to export his successful Davao model drug war to a nationwide scale, a strategy that some allege involved incentivizing police to kill drug suspects. Despite Garma’s testimony, Duterte has publicly denied any claims of a reward system for killings.
Leonardo, for his part, claimed he had heard about the reward system linked to the killing of drug suspects but asserted that he had never received any such compensation himself.
Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito opined that the Senate’s investigation into the drug war should be concluded, arguing that the allegations are not within Congress’s jurisdiction to adjudicate. He stated, “Whether incriminating or not, let our justice system function; take its course.” He further suggested that it might be prudent to expedite the process, emphasizing the politically charged nature of such investigations.
Pimentel, when asked for his thoughts, agreed with Ejercito’s perspective, acknowledging, “He has good points. Pag usapan na lang ng body, especially with the mother committee,” he remarked, implying a collaborative discussion would be beneficial.
In contrast, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa asserted that the ongoing probe must continue, as critical figures such as Garma, Kerwin Espinosa, and Ronnie Dayan have yet to face the subcommittee for questioning.
“Hindi pa nagpakita ‘yung mga resource person na nagdadaawit sa akin. Si Garma, si Kerwin Espinosa. Kailangan andyan sila para masatisfy ako,” Dela Rosa said in a separate press conference, highlighting the need for witnesses to clarify their statements.
“I am not trying to prove the guilt or innocence of De Lima because the court already decided on that. What I am after is to probe whether Kerwin Espinosa is lying or telling the truth,” he concluded, underscoring the importance of verifying testimonies during the inquiry.
— with a report from Llanesca Panti/RSJ/AOL, GMA Integrated News
**Interview with Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel: An Inside Look at the Ongoing Hearings on Duterte’s Drug War**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Senator Koko Pimentel. The Senate hearings around former President Duterte’s drug war have captured the nation’s attention. Can you share what’s currently on the agenda?
**Pimentel:** Thank you for having me. As you know, we are delving into the many concerns surrounding the drug war. A significant part of our conversation has been the need for accountability and understanding the various actions taken during that time. Right now, there doesn’t seem to be a compelling reason for Duterte to attend our next hearings, but we’ll see how things unfold.
**Editor:** You mentioned not seeing a pressing need for Duterte to appear. What might prompt a change in that stance?
**Pimentel:** Well, if other senators express a need for his testimony, I am open to entertaining that idea. It’s really about consensus within the Senate. So far, no one has pushed for his appearance strongly.
**Editor:** During the last hearing, Duterte made some startling claims, including taking “full, legal responsibility” for his actions during his presidency. How does the Senate plan to substantiate or investigate those claims?
**Pimentel:** We have a lot of material to work with—we’ve collected extensive evidence related to the drug war, and we will have experts analyze this data thoroughly. It’s a continuous process of examining everything that’s been put on the table and ensuring an effective investigation.
**Editor:** The mention of “gangsters” in his comments about death squads certainly raised eyebrows. How is the Senate approaching these revelations?
**Pimentel:** It’s critical that we take all claims seriously. The concept of organized crime being involved in these operations needs careful scrutiny. We want to ensure clarity and accountability surrounding these actions.
**Editor:** The political dynamics seem quite charged. With discussions ongoing, do you foresee any potential outcomes or resolutions coming from these hearings?
**Pimentel:** It’s hard to predict, but the hope is we get clarity and accountability. There may not be a set date for the next hearing, but we’re eager to keep the momentum going. We’re hoping to hear from retired police colonels Garma and Leonardo soon, as their insights could be invaluable.
**Editor:** Quite the lineup you have! And what about your colleague, Senator ”Bato” dela Rosa? He seems to want to keep the inquiry going as well.
**Pimentel:** Absolutely, he wants to make sure his side of the story is heard. It’s important that everyone gets a fair chance to participate in this dialogue. The proceedings are complex, but we are dedicated to ensuring a thorough investigation.
**Editor:** It appears this saga is far from over. Any final thoughts as we approach the next hearing?
**Pimentel:** Just that the Senate will continue to seek the truth, no matter how convoluted this process may be. We aim to turn this inquiry into a meaningful dialogue about accountability and justice for all. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss this vital issue.
**Editor:** Thank you, Senator Pimentel. We look forward to seeing how this unfolds.