Senator Koko Pimentel clarified on Monday that former President Rodrigo Duterte holds no sway over his leadership in the Senate investigation into Duterte’s contentious war on drugs. Addressing criticism over allowing Duterte to freely express his views, Pimentel emphasized his impartiality, despite their shared history in the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) and past political alliance.
“We have our political differences now,” Pimentel explained in an ABS-CBN News report, noting the two no longer maintain close ties. “He has absolutely zero influence over me, especially on the way I think.” Pimentel underscored that his committee report would be based solely on evidence, unaffected by any past associations or current disagreements.
During the first hearing, Duterte admitted under oath to overseeing a “death squad” in Davao targeting criminals and claimed he urged police officers to push suspects to resist, justifying their elimination. However, his former police chief and architect of the anti-drug campaign, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, dismissed Duterte’s admissions as “jokes.” Pimentel responded by stating the inquiry would take Duterte’s statements at face value, unless otherwise specified as humor.
The investigation, launched following testimonies at a House probe, explores allegations of a “reward system” and the existence of the Davao Death Squad, both denied by Duterte’s former aides. The findings may be made accessible to the International Criminal Court (ICC), currently assessing potential crimes against humanity linked to Duterte’s drug war.
