Lawmakers expressed outrage at former President Rodrigo Duterte’s lawyer after failing to attend the Quad Committee hearing.
They questioned Attorney Martin Delgra III about Duterte’s absence, citing the committee’s urgent concerns to investigate the issue of extrajudicial killings during the reign of the former president.
The committee invited Duterte to shed light on the issues, particularly extrajudicial killings. Still, his lawyer cited four reasons for his non-attendance, including a lack of trust in the committee’s independence and the committee’s insistence on presenting resource persons with untruthful statements.
Delgra III also mentioned in his letter that his client’s presence is no longer needed as he attended a similar probe in the Senate.
Lawmakers were disappointed and angry over Duterte’s refusal to attend, with Representative Joseph Stephen Paduano saying, “He promised to be present after November 1, but now he’s not showing up. Are they fooling us?”
Representative Zia Alonto Adiong also wants Delgra III to explain Duterte’s questioning of Congress’s integrity and independence, especially the accusation that they’re forcing resource persons to do things against their will.
Initially, lawmakers considered issuing a show-cause order against Delgra III but later invited him to the next hearing to explain why Duterte didn’t fulfill his promise to attend.
Abner is an award-winning journalist. He received the prestigious 2015 Titus Brandsma Award for Community Communication in the Philippines and participated in the 2016 International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) of the United States of America, sponsored by the US Embassy in the Philippines. Founder of WATCH NORTH COTABATO, a media-citizens’ transparency group. He worked as a correspondent for the Philippine Daily Inquirer and CNN Philippines. His experience in broadcasting includes anchoring for Brigada News FM in Kidapawan and General Santos City and Brigada News TV. He anchors Tira Brigada via 105.1 Brigada News FM Manila, Mondays-Saturdays.