Former President Rodrigo Duterte said he has nothing new to say about his time in office and won’t attend a hearing about the war on drugs. He also explained that he doesn’t have the money to travel to Manila for the meeting. Duterte was invited multiple times by the House of Representatives, but he refused to go, saying that he had already spoken about everything in previous hearings.
Duterte was upset, saying, “What more do they want me to say? I’ve already said everything!” He added that he doesn’t have extra money for travel and is living on his retirement pay. He also said he didn’t receive any notice about the hearing and felt disrespected by the invitation.
While some lawmakers were angry about his absence, Surigao del Norte Rep. Ace Barbers said they understood Duterte’s feelings and respected his decision. He also mentioned that if someone continues to skip a hearing, they could be forced to appear, but they still try to treat people with respect, especially former presidents.
Duterte has been accused of being linked to extrajudicial killings, but Barbers said that any claims against him must be backed up with strong evidence. The investigation into these accusations is still ongoing, and Barbers hopes to finish it by the end of the year.
