HOUSE COMMITTEE HANDLES DUTERTE INQUIRY WITH CONTROL AND CRITICAL QUESTIONS

The House quad committee investigating former President Duterte’s war on drugs impressed observers by managing its proceedings strictly, ensuring pointed questions, and mitigating interruptions. Political analyst Jean Encinas-Franco and human rights lawyer Neri Colmenares noted that the leadership’s structured approach led Duterte to make incriminating statements, including his admission of personally killing suspected criminals and supporting a reward system for police in the drug war. Duterte challenged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to expedite its investigation but showed limited remorse to affected families present. This inquiry may strengthen ICC’s case, though local courts face challenges in filing cases independently due to witness harassment.