SINABI ni Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III na handa siyang pangunahan ang imbestigasyon ng Senado sa umano’y drug war kung siya ay italaga bilang chairperson ng Blue Ribbon subcommittee.
“I am ready. If two or more senators are interested in the subject matter then I can say it is urgent and we can begin the hearing,” sabi ni Pimentel sa press briefing noong Lunes, October 21, 2024.
Sa ilalim ng Rules of the Senate, paliwanag ng minority leader, tanging ang Blue Ribbon Committee lamang ang maaaring magsagawa ng mga pagdinig tuwing recess kahit walang referral mula sa plenaryo. Sinabi niya na ang tagapangulo ng Blue Ribbon Committee ay maaaring bumuo ng isang subcommittee kung siya ay abala sa oras ng pahinga. Kung siya ay pinangalanan bilang chairperson ng subcommittee, sinabi ni Pimentel na tatanggapin niya ang pagtatalaga.
“But we have to fast-track everything. We do not really have all the time in the world because it is already budget season. I am also preparing for the budget hearing. As the minority leader, I have questions to ask. We will stay focused. We will deal only with issues relating to the drug war,” sabi ni Pimentel.
Sinabi niya na ang kanyang subcommittee ay maglilista ng mga potensyal na resource person at sisimulan ang pagdinig sa maayos na paraan.
“For an orderly investigation, we also need an orderly story so we will begin with the Duterte administration at 12 noon of June 30, 2016 or even days before that…until his end of term at 12 noon of June 30, 2022,” dagdag ni Pimentel. (Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)
