Senate President Chiz Escudero assured former president Rodrigo Duterte that he will be treated with respect he deserves if he decides to attend the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigation into his campaign against illegal drugs.
Duterte has been invited as a resource person for the hearing scheduled for October 28, and according to Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, the former president will attend the public hearing.
“Sino man resource person, dating pangulo man o ordinaryong Pilipino, ay nararapat tratuhin ng may paggalang, respeto at ng buong pagkilala sa kanyang karapatang pantao sa ilalim ng Saligang Batas natin,” said Escudero.
The senator from Sorsogon said that it is not unusual for former presidents to appear in such proceedings. He recalled how the late former President Benigno Aquino III attended a Senate hearing about the issues related to the anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia in 2017.
“Siyempre dahil dati siyang pangulo, inaasahan ko na sa parte ng mga miyembro ng Senado na bibigyan siya ng karampatang paggalang, hindi lamang bilang tao, hindi lamang bilang Pilipino, kundi bilang dating pangulo ng ating bansa,” according to Escudero.
He mentioned that Duterte could share his personal knowledge or direct tghe committee to others in his administration who can best answer the questions.
“Inaasahan ko na magkakaroon ng maliwanag, payapa at komprehensibong palitan ng pananaw at palitang ng impormasyon na hindi kailangan dumating sa anumang away, bangayan o init ng ulo.”IMT
