Senate subpoenas witnesses in drug war probe after Dela Rosa’s complaint

THE Senate Blue Ribbon sub-committee on Monday issued subpoenas to compel the presence of several individuals, including retired police colonels Royina Garma and Edilberto Leonardo, and former Customs bureau intelligence officer Jimmy Guban, for its ongoing probe into the drug war, including that of the Duterte administration.

The move came after Senator Ronald dela Rosa, a staunch ally of former President Duterte, expressed displeasure over the absence of these individuals, who had already testified before the House QuadCom probe of the Duterte administration’s drug war.

“We have to require their presence here. I can only surmise that they don’t want their statement given before the House of Representatives to be debunked before this body,” Dela Rosa said.

“If they don’t come there, then they do not want the truth to come out,” he added.

Sub-committee chairperson and Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel responded by moving to issue subpoenas ad testificandum to all those invited but did not attend.