Ex-Pres. Duterte invited in House inquiry on EJK

Metro Manila, Philippines — Former President Rodrigo Duterte has been invited to attend a House panel’s inquiry on extrajudicial killings linked to his bloody war on drugs.

In an Oct. 18 document shared with reporters, House quad committee chairperson Rep. Ace Barbers sent an invitation to Duterte to the panel’s next inquiry on Oct. 22.

The joint panel is seeking the former president’s attendance to “provide valuable insights and shed light on the issues” which he has been implicated in.

In the previous quad committee hearing, retired police colonel Royina Garma claimed that a Davao model was used on a national scale when Duterte became president, in which killing a drug suspect is rewarded.

Duterte however denied such a scheme.

Progressive group Bayan Muna and National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers’ Kristina Conti called on Malacañang to submit the evidence gathered in the quad committee to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

READ: No ICC return for PH despite House quad comm findings - Malacañang

The ICC is investigating Duterte and then-Philippine National Police chief and now Senator Bato dela Rosa for supposed crimes against humanity.

NewsWatch Plus correspondent Daniza Fernandez contributed to this report.