The House Quad Committee formally invited Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to a public hearing as part of an ongoing inquiry into extra-judicial killings under his campaign "war on drugs".
In a letter dated October 18, the hearing is scheduled to take place on October 22 (Tuesday), at 9:30 AM, at the People’s Center Building, House of Representatives, Quezon City.
The chairpersons of the Committees on Dangerous Drugs, Public Order & Safety, Human Rights, and Public Accounts extended the invitation to Duterte. The joint committee is conducting the inquiry "in aid of legislation" to gather insights on the controversial anti-drug operations, particularly those that occurred during Duterte's presidency, which have drawn local and international attention due to allegations of human rights violations.
The joint committee, chaired by Rep. Robert Ace S. Barbers, emphasized the importance of Duterte's participation to provide "valuable insights and shed light on the issues under discussion, particularly on extra-judicial killings."
The former president's administration is best known for its intense anti-drug campaign, which critics claim resulted in widespread human rights abuses, including alleged summary executions by law enforcement.
Despite these allegations, Duterte has consistently defended the campaign, maintaining that it was a necessary measure to combat the country's drug problem.
Duterte has not yet issued a statement in response to the invitation.
