Former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte made a surprise appearance at the 11th public hearing of the House Quad Committee, despite earlier announcements that the session would be canceled to allow time to sift through potential credible resource persons.
The committee reconvened after learning that Duterte would attend.
“Kaya naman nang aming mabalitaan na darating ngayon sa kapulungang ito upang kumprontahin ang Quad Comm kung bakit kinansela ang hearing kung kailan nandito na sa Manila ang dating pangulo ay minabuti na namin na ipag-patuloy upang ma-take advantage namin ang inyong presensiya kahit na walang pormal na sagot ang inyong abogado tungkol sa pagdalo ninyo ngayong araw,” lead chair of the committee, Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, said.
Barbers emphasized that while the Senate and Congress are tackling overlapping issues, the committee’s focus remains connected to key concerns such as illegal drugs, extrajudicial killings, and Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
Barbers also addressed a letter from Duterte’s lawyer, Atty. Martin Delgra III, which stated that the former president would not be needed at the hearing because he had already testified in the Senate. The letter also questioned the integrity of the Quad Committee.
“Sa kaniya (Atty. Delgra) namang pahayag na sinabi daw ninyo na wala nang integrity, walang independence, at probity ang Quad Comm, kung kaya’t hindi ninyo na kailangan pang dumalo, kami ay nagagalak na kayo pa rin ay dumalo,” he said.
In response to concerns that the hearings were politically motivated, Barbers assured Duterte: “Nais po namin tiyakin sa inyo, Mr. President, na hindi po iyon ang trabaho ng Quad Comm.”
Before the hearing, Duterte’s attendance was a topic of online debate, with some pro-Duterte vloggers calling it a publicity stunt.