Torre, others expected at Du30 arrest inquiry
Several government officials, including Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, are expected to attend the third hearing of the Senate foreign relations committee which is investigating the arrest and turnover of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
“The hearing will be moved [from April 8] to April 10 when the officials invited by Senator Imee (Marcos) will attend,” Senate President Francis Escudero said in an interview with dzBB on Sunday.
“I don’t have the list so I do not know who specifically, but there will be a hearing and there are officials who will attend. Senator Imee requested for some of them, like General Torre, who she said has to be at the hearing,” he added.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla was again invited, he said.
The panel’s second hearing last week was attended by only three out of 35 resource persons after Malacañang barred Cabinet members and other officials from attending future hearings, citing executive privilege and the sub judice rule.
Unfazed
Meanwhile families of drug war victims said they remain firm in their fight to see Duterte brought to justice.
An ICC notice on April 2 allowing them to participate in his trial has been a source of strength.
“We’ll do whatever we can to be heard,” said Sheerah Escudero, sister of 18-year-old Ephraim whose death in 2017 was declared by police as “collateral damage.”
“Somehow, it has eased the weight we’ve been carrying, knowing that Duterte was brought to… the ICC… and that he is not here anymore,” she said.
The expenses of these witnesses will be shouldered by the ICC, lawyer Kristina Conti clarified on Facebook, after Duterte supporters claimed that witnesses will enjoy a “free plane ticket, free hotel” and even “free” processing of their Schengen visa. —WITH REPORTS FROM KATHLEEN DE VILLA AND DEMPSEY REYES
