Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said the Senate does not have the power to cite former President Rodrigo Duterte in contempt for his foul language and rude behavior.
In an interview with dwIZ on November 2, Pimentel acknowledged that Senate subcommittees currently lack the same authority to hold individuals in contempt as 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.
Pimentel mentioned that if the rules remain unchanged, the subcommittee will need to submit any contempt recommendation to the main Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, led 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.
When asked about criticisms regarding his management of Duterte’s prominent role in the hearing—where Duterte defended his war on drugs with expletives and a lack of decorum—Pimentel said pleasing everybody is not the chairman’s mission.
The Senator also noted that allowing Duterte to speak openly under oath in the last hearing ultimately led him to reveal a significant disclosure—that he had a death squad in Davao City, composed of gang members and wealthy individuals willing to kill drug suspects.
According to Pimentel, the Senate gave Duterte a prominent spot as he may not be invited to the next session, and key witnesses were absent on the first day of the investigation.
“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.
Pimentel stated he would welcome all parties to review the findings and transcripts of the hearings.
Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV previously announced he had submitted the transcript from last Monday’s hearing to the International Criminal Court, where Duterte and his police officers face charges of crimes against humanity for drug war-related killings.
Critics of Duterte have also called on the Department of Justice to pursue a case against him for allegedly violating Republic Act 9851, the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity. (TCSP)
