MANILA, Philippines – Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has formally declined an invitation from the House of Representatives to attend a public hearing on October 22, 2024, citing health concerns and the short notice given for the session. The hearing, organized by the Joint Committees on Dangerous Drugs, Public Order & Safety, Human Rights, and Public Accounts, aims to discuss issues related to the previous administration’s controversial campaign against illegal drugs.
In a letter addressed to the Chairperson of the Committee on Dangerous Drugs, Rep. Robert Ace S. Barbers, Duterte’s counsel, Atty. Martin B. Delgra III, explained that the former president had only received the invitation on October 20, two days before the scheduled hearing. The session seeks to shed light on key aspects of Duterte’s war on drugs, which began in 2016 and was marked by thousands of deaths in police operations, drawing both domestic and international scrutiny.
While Duterte expressed his intention to participate, his current health condition prevented him from attending. Atty. Delgra noted that Duterte had just returned to Davao from Manila on October 17 and, due to his advanced age and numerous recent engagements, he was feeling unwell and in need of rest.
Despite his inability to attend the session on October 22, Duterte expressed his willingness to appear before the House at a later date, preferably after November 1, 2024. His counsel assured the committee of the former president’s commitment to providing insights and clarifications on the issues surrounding the anti-drug campaign, which has remained a topic of debate for its aggressive approach to eradicating illegal drugs.
The war on drugs, a flagship program of the Duterte administration, has faced criticism for human rights violations, while proponents argue that it significantly reduced crime rates. The House committees are expected to discuss further details regarding the rescheduling of Duterte’s appearance to address these critical issues.
