Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa confirmed that former President Rodrigo Duterte will attend the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the drug war on October 28. Dela Rosa stated that regardless of who chairs the hearing, Duterte has made it clear that he will personally attend.
Duterte's confirmed attendance is highly anticipated. Other invited individuals include former police colonel Royina Garma, former National Police Commission Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo, former Senator Leila de Lima, notorious drug dealer Kerwin Espinosa, and family members of victims of the drug war.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III revealed that this hearing will be conducted concurrently with the investigation by the House Quadrilateral Committee, aimed at expediting a comprehensive review of the deaths that occurred during Duterte's administration's drug war.
Between 2016 and 2021, police anti-drug operations resulted in at least 6,200 suspected drug offenders' deaths. However, human rights organizations believe the actual number of deaths could be as high as 30,000. This hearing is being held in response to public and international scrutiny and concern over law enforcement actions during the drug war period.
