Senate panel powerless to cite Duterte in contempt

MANILA, Philippines — Former president Rodrigo Duterte was not cited in contempt for his foul language and rude behavior during the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee hearing on his bloody drug war last Monday because the subcommittee has no powers to do so, according to presiding chair Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III.

Pimentel said he would move to amend the Senate rules which do not give subcommittees the same contempt powers granted to the main standing committees.

“The subcommittee realized after the hearing that under Section 20 of our rules, it has no power to cite a resource person in contempt. Before we hold a second hearing, we need to empower the subcommittee to cite persons in contempt and amend this section,” Pimentel said in a dwIZ interview yesterday.

He welcomed Sen. Risa Hontiveros’ warning to have Duterte cited in contempt if he would again spew profanities at the next hearing.

“If push comes to shove, that is always among the broad powers of the committee – cite a resource person for unruly behavior. In our investigation on extrajudicial killings in his war on drugs, no one – not even a former president – is above the law,” Hontiveros told The Philippine STAR’s online show “Truth on the Line,” launched on Thursday, Oct. 31.

In wanting Duterte detained at the Senate for contempt, Hontiveros said she found the former president “very rude” for hijacking the hearing, cursing at suspected criminals and rambling about his supposed hatred of drug users and pushers.

Pimentel said if the rules are not amended, the subcommittee will have to refer a contempt recommendation to the main Senate Blue Ribbon committee, chaired by Sen. Pia Cayetano.

“This also serves as a lesson to us – that the Blue Ribbon subcommittee should have the power to cite witnesses in contempt,” Pimentel said.

Asked about criticisms of his handling of Duterte’s taking the limelight during the hearing to defend his war on drugs using expletives and without observing proper decorum, Pimentel said: “You can’t please everybody. And that is not the mission of the chairman.”

Duterte was given the hot seat because he might not be invited to the next hearing and because other major witnesses did not attend the first day of the investigation, Pimentel said.

“We gave the witness, who may not return next hearing, the primary focus. If he got the limelight, so be it. At least we have all the materials and testimonial evidence on record,” Pimentel said.

He was referring to retired police colonel Royina Garma and resigned National Police Commission commissioner Edilberto Leonardo, who testified at the House of Representatives quad committee hearings that Duterte rewarded police officers with cash for every drug suspect killed. They were issued summons to attend the next Senate hearing. Duterte vehemently denied there was a bounty system in his drug war.

Pimentel said Duterte’s being allowed to speak freely under oath at the last hearing eventually made him drop a bombshell – that he had a death squad, composed of gangsters and rich personalities in Davao City who were eager to kill drug suspects.

But Duterte’s allies downplayed his testimony as a mere “joke” or a metaphor meant to instill fear among criminals – the same line blurted out by his officials and apologists during his administration to cushion the impact of his controversial remarks.

Pimentel said he would welcome all parties to access the findings and transcripts of the hearings.

Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV earlier announced submitting the transcript of last Monday’s hearing to the International Criminal Court, where Duterte and his police enforcers are facing charges for crimes against humanity for the drug war killings.

Duterte’s critics have also urged the Department of Justice to build a case against Duterte for his alleged violation of Republic Act 9851 or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide and Other Crimes Against Humanity.