The House Quad Committee has called on Atty. Martin Delgra III to represent former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte at the committee’s hearing, held at the People’s Center Building at the House of Representatives on November 7.
As counsel for the former president, Atty. Delgra was invited to speak on behalf of Duterte regarding the reasons outlined in an excuse letter sent to the committee, dated November 5—two days before the hearing.
“Atty. Delgra is being given authority by his client, this being the former president, to appear on his behalf,” Congressman Zia Alonto Adiong said.
Along with the reasons for Duterte’s absence, the letter also included accusations and allegations concerning the committee’s integrity and its methods of obtaining answers from resource speakers.
“He even went to assail the integrity of the Quad Committee and even questioned the impartiality of some of the members of this Quad Committee,” Adiong noted.
“I also noticed that there are even some allegations of subordination, I’m sorry subornation, that some of the members here coerced a certain individual to say something, basically inducing perjury,” Adiong added.
Adiong addressed one of Duterte’s reasons for not attending, which was his prior appearance before a Senate committee. However, Duterte’s spokesperson later clarified that some statements made during that appearance were meant as comedic relief.
“When his spokesperson was asked about the truthfulness of these responses to the interpellation of one of the members of the Senate, he told the public that it was merely a joke,” Adiong said.
Adiong now seeks clarification from Delgra on which portions of the former president’s testimony were meant as jokes and which were serious.
In connection to the invitation, Binangonan District 2 Representative Jonathan Keith Flores argued that Delgra is simply performing his duties as a lawyer and conveying his client’s sentiments.
“Mr. Chair, Atty. Delgra III is just being the lawyer,” Flores said in response to the committee’s call for Delgra to appear.
“I don’t think he will be the best person to answer the questions that we may have, it should be the former president himself,” Flores added.
“Atty. Delgra III was chosen by (the former) president, so he confidently has trust on Atty. Delgra III to at least respond on his behalf,” Adiong countered.
Adiong clarified that the motion to call upon the former president’s counsel was not to interrogate Delgra with questions intended for Duterte himself. Rather, he requested that Atty. Delgra elaborate on the contents of the excuse letter presented to the committee.