Two Davao City lawyers said the recent Quad Committee hearing of the House of Representatives (HoR) on drug war of the previous administration attended by former President Rodrigo Duterte that ran for almost 14 hours was not conducted in aid of legislation but to oppress the former president.
Atty. Arnolfo Cabling said on Sunday that all the lawmakers in the said hearing portrayed themselves as the investigators and prosecutors.
“Wala ko miuyon sa ilang gibuhat laliman ka 14 hours and mura sila ug imbestigador ug prosecutors. Mura’g giangkon na sila ang tanan, sila na ang imbestigador ug prosecutors. Unya kung prosecutor ka, naa man ta’y ginasunod na mga rules ug procedures. Wala naman sila gasunod, dili gyud tu fair. Ang ilang mga pangutana kung dili misleading, leading. Ilang ipugos nga ang gusto lang nilang tubag, maoy tubag. Dili siya mao,” Cabling said during the “Basta Dabawenyo” podcast.
On November 23, the former president faced the House QuadComm inquiry for his war on drugs in aid of legislation.
“Karon dili in aid of legislation ang ilang ginabuhat, ang ginabuhat nila pagduot kay PRRD, pangdaut ug ambot unsay masama nilang plano gusto gyud nila ipiton si PRRD,” Cabling said.
According to Cabling, he was surprised that the International Criminal Court (ICC) was brought up during the hearing as the ICC has no jurisdiction in the Philippines.
“Unya ang akong katingad-an, in aid of legislation, ngano pirmi man nila ihisgot-hisgot ang ICC? Unsa man gyud ang ilang tumong? Mutabang sila sa ICC? Kung mutabang sila sa ICC, para unsa? Ilang gyud iduot si former president Rody Duterte? Unsay purpose ni Trillanes didto? Di ba more on ICC siya? Pero kapila naman na gibalik balik ni SolGen Guevarra nga wala man gyud jurisdiction ang ICC ug wala pud ta’y obligasyon nga mutabang sa ICC kay dili nata miyembro. Ngano mudangop man ta sa ICC nga naa man ta’y mga korte nato diri. Kanang mga nagadangop sa ICC kana ng mga nasud nga diktador ang lider nila, gi-suspend ang court processes sa korte, mao na ang mga tao walay lain kaadtuan mangayo ug tabang muadto sa ICC,” he said.
Meanwhile, Atty. Petite Principe questioned what the QuadComm came up with after almost 14 hours of inquiry.
“The question is kanang 14 hours unsa ang output ana ilahang gihimo na congressional hearing na supposedly in aid of legislation? Naa ba’y bill nga gipasa, naa ba’y balaod nga gi-amend? Perhaps we should have a parang reports kung unsa na mga balaod ang ilang nabuhat because that is taxpayers’ money. Every congressional hearing dako kaayo na nga gastos kay that’s time, money, and labor, mga staff dinha pila na kabuok. Again, unsa ang output?” Principe said.
Principe said as a legislator, she has never stayed in court for a 14-hour hearing.
“It’s probably the longest na nakit-an nako katong nahitabo kay Mayor Rody. Usually pag naay hearing successive pila ka days but dili nang 14 hours dire-diretso, Grabe gyud ang stamina ni Mayor Rody nahitabo during the congressional hearing. Sa level naman sa committee hearing sa city council, half day seguro taas na kaayo na. Ang pangutana dinha kanang 14 hours na congressional hearing na nahitabo, unsa ang output ana? Because that congressional hearing was conducted in aid of legislation kay mao man na ang trabaho sa atoang congressmen,” Principe said.
Meanwhile, Cabling said he is saddened by the Filipinos who did this to the former president, who served the Filipinos for a long time with all his heart.
“Napaka ingrato naman seguro nating mga Pilipino. Dugay nata gasulti nga dili ta magpasakop sa mga langyaw, dili ta gusto magpadikta sa mga langyaw, karon ang congress na mismo ang murag mutabang sa mga langyaw nga kontrolon ang Pilipinas,” he said.
