Screengrab from Congress PH

Former President Rodrigo Duterte attended the House Quad-Committee hearing today, November 13, marking the first time he’s appeared before the panel. The hearing attracted significant attention, with families of victims of alleged extrajudicial killings (EJK) under Duterte’s controversial war on drugs gathering beforehand to hold a Holy Mass in memory of their loved ones.

The hearing’s lead chairperson, Robert Ace Barbers, explained the committee's decision to proceed with the session despite having only a limited number of resource persons available. Barbers emphasized that the committee saw Duterte’s confirmed attendance as a unique opportunity to engage him directly on sensitive matters regarding his administration’s anti-drug campaign.

"Since we received information that the former president would attend, we wanted to seize this rare chance to speak with him and allow our members to ask him questions directly. It’s a privilege we don’t often get," Barbers noted.

The hearing and pre-hearing mass set the stage for an emotionally charged day, with affected families and lawmakers alike voicing their hopes for transparency, accountability, and a better understanding of Duterte’s policies during his presidency.