If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything — American humorist Mark Twain
UNEXPECTEDLY, there are rumors that the House Quad Committee led by Surigao del Norte District II representative Ace Barbers will be shouldering former president Rodrigo Duterte’s travel expenses in order for the Davao strongman to attend the committee’s investigation on extrajudicial killings (EJKs) and Duterte’s anti-drug campaign when he was Davao City mayor and president of the republic.
Duterte once again was a no-show at the November 7 hearing of the House Quad Comm that includes a probe on the rise of the so-called Davao Death Squad and numerous killing perpetuated by the notorious group during his presidency.
His absence raises questions about his willingness to confront the issues head-on.
The Quad Committee expressed their disappointment on Duterte’s unwillingness to attend the hearing, some members calling out the former president’s initial agreement to appear before them and testify after November 1 as a blatant lie.
But there were signs this would happen as days prior to the hearing, Duterte through his legal counsel had sent a letter to the committee to state that the inquiry is a mere political ploy aimed to indict him for crimes he did not commit.
This couldn’t be any farther from the truth, when you compare it to the clown show which was the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s investigation on the same issue.
In true Duterte fashion, he also attacked the Quad Comm’s genuine efforts to unravel the truth: “Galit sila? Sipain ko sila. ‘Tang ina. Pera nila? Wala na akong pera eh. Mamamasahe ako (papunta) doon. I am living on my retirement pay. Wala akong extra money sa bangko, lahat suweldo ko ‘yan.”
Duterte also added: “You don’t scare me a bit. Galing na ako (sa) pagka-presidente, huwag nila akong ganunin. Galing na ako sa Congress. Nag-mayor ako, nag-congressman ako, nag-presidente na ako. Do not give me that shit.” He also denied receiving an invitation from the committee, despite his legal counsel sending a letter to the congressmen days before the scheduled hearing: “In fairness to the idiots, wala akong na-notice na pupunta ako ngayon. Sabihin mo nga sa mga hindot na ‘yan. What is there to say or more to what I have said. Sinabi ko naman lahat. Ano pa ang gusto ng mga gago?”
It is evident that Duterte’s actions is a clear strategy to undermine the integrity of the Quad Committee, to which no fool should believe in. It is all talk and full of excuses.
The fact is that he only shows up when he has allies that will come to his rescue. When Duterte chose to attend the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, a panel organized and composed of his own allies, many surmised he would just run the show—and he did! Our august senators were afraid to ask him questions regarding the issues at hand and they allowed him to speak out of turn and to conduct his own monologue with no particular conclusion or thought.
The distinguished members of the Senate—highly regardsed by the public–allowed him to just talk when he wanted and even discounted the testimonies of other resource persons and witnesses who were against Duterte.
But the truth can never lie. What Duterte is really afraid of is accountability, to which the Quad Committee is capable of giving to the Filipino people.
The Committee, which is being lauded for its balanced and fair approach, has gained respect from the public for its dedication to transparency and meticulous attention to due process.
So now, in an effort to provide the public and the people a full picture of the truth, our congressmen comprising the Quad Committee have released an official statement, saying they are willing to shoulder the travel expenses of Duterte, including his airfare and accommodations, in order to ensure that he would attend the committee’s hearings. Chairman Barbers, the lead-chair of the Quad Comm said that “if finances are truly an issue, we’re ready to cover his travel and accommodations ourselves. This is about the people’s right to know the truth about alleged abuses in his (Duterte’s) administration’s anti-drug operations.” And as the hearings continue, the Quad Committee has vowed to press forward, standing firm in its pronouncement to uncover the truth in a renewed commitment to transparency and justice—a commitment that will surely endure, with or without Duterte’s cooperation. Whether the former president will face the music or continue to taunt from the sidelines, that remains to be seen.
But as it stands, the Quad Committee appears poised to make history, showing that even the most powerful cannot remain unaccountable forever.
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