Quad Committee co-chair Bienvenido Abante Jr. said on Wednesday during the 11th hearing that while the committee will extend the respect due to a former president, it will not show deference in its pursuit of the truth.
Abante expressed gratitude to former President Rodrigo Duterte for attending the hearing, giving the committee the opportunity to question him.
“For the first time former president Rodrigo Duterte will appear before this committee to answer questions posed by its members,” he said.
“Rest assured po that the Congress recognizes your role as our former president,” Abante added.
While acknowledging Duterte’s previous position of power, Abante emphasized that the committee would extend the respect the office deserves but reminded members that respect should not equate to deference.
“We will extend to you the respect that the position deserves, maraming salamat po. Respect but not deference,” he said.
“However my friends and colleagues, let me draw a clear line here, while we should be respectful we cannot be deferential,” Abante added.
“It is important to stress that respect and deference are two different things. It is vital that we as representatives of the people remember that distinction because our ultimate allegiance is not to any individual, no matter how high their office is,” he stressed.
Abante clarified that the purpose of the hearing is to seek justice and uncover the truth.
“It is our sincere hope that the former president’s presence here today will aide this objective, not hinder it,” Abante said.
