FORMER President Rodrigo Duterte responded to the anger of quad committee members who called him a coward after he skipped Thursday’s hearing on extrajudicial killings in his war on drugs.
Duterte explained why he did not pay attention to their invitation to attend the hearing held Thursday by the House Quad Committee.
According to some congressmen House Majority Leader Manuel Dalipe, Zambales Rep. Jay Khonghun, and La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega, the former president seemed to be avoiding questions from lawmakers and the families of the victims who are seeking justice.
Khonghun suggested that if Duterte truly wanted to reveal the truth to the public, he should attend the quad committee hearing.
Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano expressed his anger, stating that the president was merely avoiding the questions.
It can be recalled that FPRRD did not attend the invitation because, according to him, he did not trust the people inside the House of Representatives.
“I am living on my retirement pay. Wala akong extra money sa bangko na last sweldo ko yan pati yung retirement ko,” Duterte said in an interview with the media on Thursday night.
“Sila pa ang galit ngayon. Galing ako pagka Presidente wag nila akong ganunin. Galing nga ako Congress, nag mayor ako, nag congressman, nag Presidente, I do not give me that sh**t,” he added.
In response, Duterte said there was no point in returning to the House to attend the hearing because, as he explained during the Senate hearing, he had already provided all the relevant information, and there was nothing new to add to the matter.
“Sinabi ko what is there or to what I have said na sinabi ko naman ang lahat ano paba ang gusto ng mga gago,” the former president lamented.
Screenshot photo of Rhoda Grace Saron
