Former Senator Panfilo Lacson voiced concerns over former President Rodrigo Duterte’s conduct during a Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee investigation into his administration’s drug war, suggesting that the Senate was “invaded” by the former president. Lacson shared his thoughts on the incident via X (formerly Twitter), highlighting Senator Risa Hontiveros’s efforts to uphold the Senate’s integrity.
“Yesterday, the Upper Chamber was ‘invaded’ by the former president of the republic,” Lacson wrote, acknowledging Hontiveros as the sole senator to “preserve the dignity of the Philippine Senate.”
Senator Hontiveros engaged in several heated exchanges with Duterte throughout the session, particularly on Duterte’s accountability in the drug war that resulted in thousands of deaths. While Duterte reiterated that he took full responsibility for the policy, he refused to accept liability for specific deaths, including that of 17-year-old Kian de los Santos in 2017. When asked by Hontiveros, Duterte emphasized that “guilt is personal” and suggested that she consult a lawyer, to which she confidently responded, “Ok lang po, kayang-kaya kong magtanong sa abogado.”
Former Senator Sonny Trillanes also commended Hontiveros, calling her a “bright spot” during the hearing and praising her courage and intellect.
The investigation, led by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, marks an ongoing inquiry into the drug war’s legacy and its impact on human rights. Duterte eventually requested a suspension of the hearing.
