The Senate may potentially conduct its own investigation into the War on Drugs campaign of the past Duterte administration. According to Senator Bong Go, the allegations raised in the hearing of the House’s quad committee are baseless and untrue.
“In all the State of the Nation Addresses (SONA) from 2016 to 2021, whenever President Duterte mentioned the war on drugs, everyone applauded, and Congress and the Senate gave him standing ovations because they felt the change, and former President Duterte fulfilled his promises. But why is he being blamed now?” according to Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go
On Monday, Senator Bong Go addressed the media to respond to allegations regarding the Oplan Tokhang of the Duterte administration.
In the interview, Go denied that there was a reward system or monetary incentives for every drug suspect killed.
This came after former police colonel Royina Garma revealed in the recent hearing of the House’s quad committee that there was a reward system in the War on Drugs campaign under former President Rodrigo Duterte.
According to Garma, the rewards ranged from P20,000 to P1 million.
“He [Duterte] supported the police, he supported the military personnel, but let me repeat, there was no reward system as they are claiming now. This accusation is completely baseless,” Go added.
Go also said he is ready to participate in the investigation by the House’s quad committee to answer the allegations. However, he also called for respect for interparliamentary courtesy between the two chambers of Congress.
He added that to uncover the truth about the war on drugs, he may file a resolution in the Senate to conduct a parallel investigation into Oplan Tokhang.
“If you want to investigate the war on drugs, we can listen to it here, especially with Senator Bato as the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Order. He was the PNP chief, so we can find out the truth and what its impact was,” the senator added.
It is worth noting that former President Duterte and Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa have been invited several times to the quad committee hearings, but they have not attended.
However, Vice President Sara Duterte previously stated that the House’s quad committee was formed to discredit the Dutertes and their well-known supporters and allies.
