Dwayne Pelagio

House officials dared former president Rodrigo Duterte on Nov. 10 to attend the next hearing of the lower chamber’s quad committee on the drug war following his threat to “kick” its members.

Photos Courtesy of Radyo Pilipinas/Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau.

“With all due respect Mr. FPRRD (Duterte), don’t make any more excuses in not attending our hearings. Please make sure to be around on Wednesday, so that you can make true your threat to kick congressmen as you have repeatedly warned,” House Assistant Majority Leader and Zambales 1st District Rep. Jefferson Khonghun told media in a statement.

Khongun invited the former president to be there and kick them if that will make him happy.

“I’m very sure your supporters nationwide will also be watching on national TV or YouTube, ready to give you the loudest applause you want to hear,” he added in his statement.

Khongun asked Duterte if how he can kick them if he doesn’t personally attend the House hearings, reminding him to not make empty threats and give them respect as they gave him respect.

“Don’t be afraid to face us in quad comm. You don’t have to worry, we will give you all the reasonable amount of respect you deserve being the former president,” the lawmaker said in his statement.

He also noted that the respect must be reciprocal and will never allow him to bully them in the “House of the people” on which they are representing.

Duterte’s lawyer, Atty. Martin Delgra III said through a letter sent to the office of Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers that Duterte skipped the meeting to “save the government time and taxpayer’s money.”

The lawyer also said that his client “is already doubtful” of the panel’s integrity, as well as its “independence and probity” despite respecting the authority of the quad committee.

Duterte also cited finance-related problems as one of the reasons for his absence in the said hearing.

Quad comm leaders — namely its chair Robert Ace Barbers; co-chairs Dan Fernandez, Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr., and Joseph Stephen “Caraps” Paduano; vice chair Romeo Acop; Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr.; and Deputy Speaker David “Jay-jay” Suarez — offered to fund his entourage.

“If finances are truly an issue, we’re ready to cover his travel and accommodations ourselves. This is about the people’s right to know the truth about alleged abuses in his administration’s anti-drug operations,” Barbers said.

Former police colonel Royina Garma earlier admitted during the House Quad Committee hearing that the Duterte administration used the "Davao Model" in the reward system for police officers who kill drug suspects which gives cash rewards ranging from P20,000 to P1 million, depending on the target.

Duterte has denied Garma's allegations, saying he never ordered the police to kill individuals involved in illegal drugs without due cause.