Former President Rodrigo Duterte testifies at the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on extrajudicial killings, addressing alleged human rights violations from his administration’s war on drugs on October 28, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News 

MANILA — The House Quad Committee will push through with its hearing on Wednesday, a lawmaker confirmed, after President Rodrigo Duterte's former spokesperson said he would “confront” lawmakers for initially postponing the proceedings. 

The quad comm, which is investigating killings in Duterte's drug war, initially announced that it would postpone the hearing to November 21. 

But House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro said congressmen were notified by the Committee Secretary on Tuesday night to disregard the notice of cancellation sent last Monday. 

“Please be informed that the 11th Public Hearing will proceed as scheduled TOMORROW, November 13, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. at the People’s Center,” a copy of the “urgent notice” said. 

“Please disregard the notice of cancellation sent earlier to you,” it added. 

Duterte to House Quad Comm: 'Galit sila? Sipain ko sila'

This comes after former presidential spokesperson Atty. Salvador Panelo announced that Duterte accepted the quad comm invitation to attend the November 13 hearing. 

“(Former) PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) and I will go to Batasang Pambansa tomorrow at 10:00am and confront the Quad Committee members why after demanding his presence and accepting their invitation and coming here last night, they will just cancel it without prior notice,” Panelo said.

Duterte to question change in date of House Quad Comm hearing

Quad comm leaders said the mega panel notified Duterte and his lawyer Martin Delgra III on Monday night regarding the changes in the hearing schedule. 

Quad comm lead co-chairperson Rep. Robert Ace Barbers added that as of noon of Tuesday, they had yet to receive formal communication from Duterte’s camp. 

“Nagba-bluff ka ba? Hindi ka namin uurungan,” Castro said, addressing Duterte.

On Tuesday evening, the schedule of committee meetings at the House of Representatives website showed that the quad comm would resume on Wednesday morning its hearing into illegal drugs and the alleged extrajudicial killings in the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.