Senate Blue Ribbon likely to handle drug war probe

By Wilnard Bacelonia, Philippine News Agency

In a radio interview, Escudero explained that only this committee could act motu propio on the issue, considering that Congress is still on recess. (File Photo: Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB via Senate of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA – The Senate Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations, more popularly known as the Blue-Ribbon Committee, will most likely be the one to handle the proposed inquiry on former president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said on Friday.

In a radio interview, Escudero explained that only this committee could act motu propio on the issue, considering that Congress is still on recess.

“Hindi pa naman pinal, ang direksyon ay parang Blue-Ribbon Committee ang mag-motu proprio investigation habang recess. Pero kung magre-resume, malamang ang Committee on Justice ang maghe-hearing (It’s not yet final but the direction is the Blue-Ribbon Committee will handle the motu propio investigation while in recess. But once sessions resume, the Committee on Justice will hear it),” he said.

Senator Pia Cayetano chairs the Blue-Ribbon Committee, while Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III chairs the Senate Committee on Justice.

Pimentel, in a message to reporters, assured that he is ready to handle the proposed probe if referred to his committee.

“I will have to handle it like the professional that I am,” he said.

Meanwhile, Escudero said he is set to talk to Senators Ronald Dela Rosa and Christopher Lawrence Go during the weekend to ask them whether they prefer to open the investigation this recess or later in the resumption of the regular session, which is expected to be jampacked with budget hearings.

He will also ask the two senators about the direction of the inquiry.

Go earlier filed a resolution seeking to direct the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs to handle the drug war probe.

Dela Rosa also said earlier that the committee, which he chairs, has the option to open the investigation before the regular session resumes.

Escudero said he advised Dela Rosa and Go to divest from leading the probe to make sure that it would be “fair and unbiased.”

Convening the Committee of the Whole, as first broached by Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros, is also another option that he would discuss with other senators, he said.

Hontiveros earlier said it is better and fairer if the leadership convenes the Committee of the Whole to investigate the war on drugs of the previous administration.

She said this would give each senator “equal rights” to investigate the issue, as well as assure and encourage victim-survivors to join and testify in the proceedings.