At the latest Senate inquiry into extrajudicial killings and the war on drugs, the opening statements of some allies of former President Rodrigo Duterte, such as Senators Bong Go, Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, and Robin Padilla, set the tone that the Senate inquiry is nothing but a platform for Duterte to control the narrative.

Their statements and demeanor throughout the investigations were characterized by praise and a strong defense of Duterte and his anti-drug campaign during his administration.
This is even though Duterte admitted during the inquiry to instructing police officers to “encourage the criminals to fight, encourage them to draw their guns” to justify their killings, and that he had his death squad made up of “gangsters.” His admissions support the revelations during the House Quad Committee hearings, which revealed a system perpetrated by Duterte in which extrajudicial killings were accepted, protected, and rewarded. Police officers were not only empowered by Duterte’s drug war; they also had the “nanlaban” excuse to justify the killings and were motivated by the reward system, as they received money for every successful kill.
However, despite these admissions, most Senators fail to ask appropriate follow-up questions and allow Duterte to continue rambling unchecked. The fake investigation of the Senate inquiry is further underscored by the jokes thrown around. It is deeply disturbing to hear Duterte casually admit—sometimes even in a joking manner—to the thousands of innocent people killed, saying, “Maraming namatay, Sir. Marami talaga. Thousands, I would say, from when I was Mayor. Marami yan sila.” What is even worse is the lack of outrage from most of the Senators, combined with the applause and laughter that echo through the room when Duterte makes light of his extrajudicial killings.
At one point, Senator Risa Hontiveros even had to remind Senator Jinggoy Estrada, who was sharing a joke with Duterte, to set a more serious tone, stating, “that this is not a laughing matter.” Truly, Duterte’s statements and demeanor throughout the inquiry, as well as those of his allies, are not only insulting to the victims but also a serious affront to the moral fabric and justice system of the country.
The reality is that Duterte can make these admissions boldly because he knows that his lapdogs in the Senate will protect him. He portrays himself as the savior of the Philippines, claiming that he did what he had to do as President to protect the Filipino people from alleged drug criminals. Ultimately, the Senate inquiry is a sham, designed for Duterte and his allies to publicly defend themselves and present a counter-narrative to the public in light of the Quad Committee’s revelations.
If Duterte truly wanted to demonstrate his bravado and patriotism, he should appear before the Quad Committee, which is conducting the real investigation. He will not appear, as he has no allies on the Quad Committee to protect him. This only highlights that Duterte is a coward hiding behind his allies. He is all bark and no bite, masking his shortcomings with foul language, tantrums, and the support of his allies in the Senate.
Duterte has maintained that he takes full legal responsibility, “sa lahat ng nagawa ng police pursuant to my orders, ako ang managot, at ako ang makulong na sumunod sa order ko.” If this is the case, then Duterte should have no problem appearing before the Quad Committee. The Quad Committee is a definitive test of Duterte’s denials and defenses. He will no longer be able to hide behind his allies and will instead be grilled by principled lawmakers who seek to uncover the truth and ensure that justice prevails.

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