Former President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, November 13, attends the House quad comm hearing on the alleged extrajudicial killings and human rights violations from his administration’s war on drugs. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Facing the House quad committee hearing into his war on drugs, former President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said he will raise P1 million to support police officers facing cases related to their involvement in drug-related operations.

READ: Duterte arrives at House for quad comm inquiry

He stressed this commitment after panel co-chair Dan Fernandez of Santa Rosa City, Laguna floated PNP chief Rommel Marbil's statement alleging there was no record of his actual support for cops linked in his term's war on drugs.

“I will start a fund sa protection ng mga pulis. I am putting up P1 million. Maghahanap ako. Meron akong P1 million. P1 million lang, bubula ako sabihin kong wala," Duterte said. "I will start, I will raise a fund para tulungan ‘yung mga pulis.

Fernandez also cited Police Gen. Marbil's records from July 2016 to June 2022 that 1,286 officers were "affected" by the drug war — with 312 killed and 974 wounded. Marbil also said 214 officers faced 352 criminal charges related to drug operations.

Fernandez asked Duterte if he was able to help the involved cops and if he could be "legally responsible" for their situation.

Duterte meanwhile said he had not received any request to help the officers, but vowed he would always be "pro-police".

“I will personally appear in court. Ako mismo ang mag defense counsel nila,” Duterte promised.

(I will be their defense counsel)

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"Two days ago you have mentioned na wala po kayong pamasahe papunta po rito (Two days ago, you mentioned that you have no money for airfare to come here). And I'm pretty shocked that you have P1 million in your account to help our policemen and we salute you for that," Fernandez said.

"That one is for my subsistence," Duterte responded.

Quad comm officers on Sunday offered to shoulder Duterte's air fare so he could attend the war on drugs hearings.

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The heated exchange prompted panel lead co-chair Rep. Robert Ace Barbers of Surigao del Norte to step in and pause the hearing.