By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Deputy Majority Leader and Tingog Partylist Representative Jude Acidre has challenged former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to appear before the House Quad Committee following Duterte’s recent Senate testimony about his anti-drug campaign.
Acidre criticized Duterte’s defiant stance, insisting he must answer for the consequences of his actions. He also called on Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to recuse himself from the Senate inquiry due to his deep involvement in Duterte’s policies.
“Duterte’s admissions about his ‘death squad’ and his disturbing willingness to command extrajudicial killings reveal a leader with no regard for human life,” Acidre stated. “It’s appalling that he continues to hide behind a tough-on-crime persona, leaving a trail of bloodshed in his wake.”
During the recent Senate hearing, Duterte, who assumed the presidency in 2016 with a promise to extend his Davao City anti-crime approach nationwide, admitted to directing a group to eliminate perceived threats.
He also disclosed that he instructed the police to provoke suspects into confrontations to justify their killings, defiantly stating, “Do not question my policies because I offer no apologies, no excuses. I did what I had to do.”
Acidre emphasized that Dela Rosa’s role in the Senate probe represents “a glaring conflict of interest.”
“His complicity in these policies undermines any attempt at impartiality. This investigation should be about justice for the families who lost loved ones, not about shielding those in power from accountability,” Acidre said.
He underscored the need for a transparent inquiry, stressing that justice for the victims must be the primary focus.
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