President Rodrigo Duterte attends the "Salamat PRRD" thanksgiving concert at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on June 26, 2022. Valerie Escalera, Presidential PhotoMANILA — Former President Rodrigo Duterte skipped the resumption on Tuesday of the House quad committee inquiry into the alleged extrajudicial killings in his administration’s war on drugs after saying over the weekend that he would not shrink from appearing before House members.

• House quad comm invites Duterte to October 22 hearing

In a letter read during the hearing, Duterte’s counsel, Atty. Martin Delgra III said his client was “not feeling well” and “in need of much rest”, but is “willing to appear” before the quad comm — four panels holding the joint hearings — on some other available date “preferably after November 1”.

Abang Lingkod party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano, co-chair, questioned the absence.

“There is no authority coming from the former President that he will be represented by Atty. Martin Delgra, and at the same time, no medical certificate confirming that indeed the former President will be excused in today’s hearing because of his medical situation,” he said.

The quad comm had required former Pag-IBIG Fund trustee Mylah Roque — husband of former Duterte spokesman Harry Roque — to submit a medical certificate to explain why she could not attend hearings. She has since been cited in contempt.

• Mylah Roque only sent quad comm a prescription from her personal doctor — House leader

But Barbers requested his colleagues to afford the former President “courtesy”, by not requiring him to submit a medical certificate.

“As we all know, the former President is already old and has been experiencing, based on media reports, has been sick lately, and actually had his medical check-up, I believe. In deference to the former President, I think we should afford him the courtesy that is due to him, by not requiring him to submit to this committee a medical certificate,” Barbers replied.

“We have our rules,” Paduano asserted.

“We all know he has reached that age of a fragile age. Therefore, maybe we can grant that exception to the former President,” Barbers said as he pushed for his request.

DELGRA AUTHORITY

Paduano relented after a suspension of the hearing and a huddle among House members.

“[W]ith regards to the authority coming from the President for Atty. Martin Delgra, we need the document, so that he can have official entry of appearance in the next hearing,” Paduano said.

“Perhaps it was just an oversight on the part of the counsel of the former president. We need to ask counsel to be present in the next hearing to be counsel for the former president,” Barbers explained.

A lawmaker questioned whether the quad comm is giving “special treatment” to Duterte.

“Are we giving special treatment to a witness just because he is the former President?” Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. asked.

But Barbers said it was not special treatment but courtesy and deference to Duterte as he urged colleagues to "extend a little bit of the courtesy due to him."

Santa Rosa, Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez, however, cited House rules, where witnesses may only be granted two psotponements of their appearance "without justifiable cause."

He added: "We have to apply the rules of this committee to all or to none at all."

MORE 'SQUID TACTICS'?

ACT Teachers Party List Rep. France Castro meanwhile referred to Duterte a "squid", a term she previously used to describe his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte, for using tactics that she said were meant to avoid accountability.

“Parang nagagayahan lang ang mag-amang Duterte. Ang daming sinasabi ‘pag hindi under oath o wala sa tamang lugar. Pero kapag pinatawag na sa pormal na pagdinig, nag-uugaling pusit na pareho at ang daming rason para huwag dumalo at sagutin ang mga katanungan natin,” Castro said.

(It is like the father and daughter are copying each other. They have so many comments when not under oath, or when in a different venue, but when invited to a formal hearing, they act like squids and have so many reasons not to come and answer questions)

She said that former President Duterte should be cited in contempt if he misses the next hearing, citing House rules.

Gabriela Party List Rep. Arlene Brosas and Kabataan Party List Rep. Raoul Manuel also criticized Duterte's absence from the hearing.

“By refusing to participate, the former President is hindering the people’s right to know and denying them the opportunity to seek justice for the crimes committed during his term,” Brosas said.

“Pare-pareho silang hindi marunong humarap at managot. Ang mga taong hindi kayang umako ng responsibilidad ay hindi kailanman dapat maupo sa gobyerno,” Manuel added in a statement.

(Both of them are averse to facing issues and being held accountable. Those who cannot take responsibility shoudl not be in government)

GET WELL, FACE THE MUSIC

Duterte also received “get well” wishes from an incumbent and former lawmaker, so he can “face the music”.

“I hope he gets well na, so he would have health to face the music,” former Sen. Leila de Lima, a vocal Duterte critic and who attended Tuesday's hearing, said in a chance interview.

• De Lima shares 'history' of Duterte Death Squad

“Kay Ginoong Duterte, sana gumaling na kayo. Magpagaling po kayo, para mayroon kang lakas na harapin ang lahat,” De Lima added.

(To Mr. Duterte, please get well. Get well so you will have the strength to ace all these)

Abante acknowledged that Duterte has said he is ready to appear before lawmakers.

"Sana po makapunta kayo sa susunod na hearing. Sana po samahan ka ng ibang invited personalities na nagtatago pa rin. Sana po sa pagpunta niyo rito, maraming mga katanungan ang maaari ninyong sagutin,” he also said.

(I hope you can come to the next hearing. I hope you will be accompanied by others we have invited who are still in hiding. I hope that when you come here, you will be able to answer many questions)

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