Duterte says he will appear before House quad comm if invited

Former President Rodrigo Duterte. Ace Morandante, Presidential Photo/File

MANILA — Former President Rodrigo Duterte said that he is ready to appear in the House's quad committee hearing after he was invited to address his alleged involvement in extrajudicial killings during his administration's bloody "war on drugs".

The House quad comm said it is also investigating the crimes linked to illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators and illegal drugs.

"If it's still pleasure, why not. Anong gusto nilang malaman sa akin (what do they want to learn from me)? ," he told the media in a press conference in Davao City on Saturday. 

"If they will invite me. I just hope that they would ask educated questions," he added. 

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'I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT POGOS'

When asked by the media on the probe into alleged extrajudicial killings, Duterte said it is true, but he denied the operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operation in Davao.

"(They are investigating the extrajudicial killings.) Naku, totoo yan. (And in relations sa POGO) Ah wala ako niyan. Wala tayong POGO. POGO, we are too far away from that. Hindi ko nga alam maglaro ng POGO," he said.

Last August, the Committee on Dangerous Drugs chairperson Robert Ace Barbers of Surigao del Norte said he hopes the former President will be able to shed light on the issues surrounding his administration’s war on drugs.

Committee on Public Order and Safety chairperson Dan Fernandez of Laguna also wants to ask about the rationale behind Duterte's executive order allowing licensed gaming operators to  run POGOs.

DUTERTE SAYS WILL SUPPORT COPS, TROOPS FACING WORK-RELATED CASES

Meanwhile, Duterte was also asked about his feelings that his former PNP officials were grilled in the Congress for various issues.

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He, instead, offered legal support to them, saying police and military personnel facing charges in relation to their duty, can rely on him.

Duterte said that he has a debt of gratitude to the uniformed services as the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines have been supportive of him since he was Davao City mayor, which led to the peace and order of the city.

"They will have my support legally. Iko-consulta ko sa mga abugado. All I can do is provide them with lawyers. Tutulong talaga ako sa pulis at military. Lalo na in the performance of their duty, itataya ko pati sarili kong reputasyon," he said.

On the other hand, Duterte wants to make peace with former Senator Leila de Lima as the latter wants to go after the individuals behind the "fabricated" drug cases against her following her acquittal from all the charges.

"Well, as a human being, I would say that, as much as possible I just want to make peace with everybody. But if she starts to f*ck everything, hindi kita aatrasan," he said.

Duterte also referenced a supposed sex video — long denied by De Lima — saying he would release it if the former senator does not stop talking against him.