Former President Rodrigo Duterte attends a Senate hearing investigating the alleged extra-judicial killings during his administration. Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau handout/file

Former President Rodrigo Duterte explained on Thursday why he did not attend the inquiry of the House Quad Committee on the extrajudicial killings allegedly committed during his administration's war on illegal drugs.

Atty. Martin Delgra III, Duterte's legal counsel, earlier sent a letter to the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs that his client would not attend the November 7 hearing as Duterte is “doubtful” of the integrity and independence of the Quad Comm.

House Quad Committee co-chair Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano voiced his deep disappointment over Duterte's absence at the hearing on Thursday.

"Ano to naglolokahan tayo dito? Natatakot siya na pumunta dito? We should invite again the former president to be present in the next hearing," he said.

Former President Duterte to skip Nov. 7 Quad Comm hearing: counsel

Duterte replied to the House Quad members who conveyed their disappointment regarding his absence, saying that traveling to Metro Manila is costly for him.

"Galit sila? Sipain ko sila. T*** i**. Pera nila? Wala na akong pera eh. Mamasahe ako doon. I am living on my retirement pay. Wala akong extra money sa bangko, lahat sweldo ko yan," he told the media on Thursday.

"Sila pa ang galit ngayon. B**ng!"

Duterte added that the lawmakers could not intimidate him with threats of contempt of court.

"You don't scare me a bit. Galing na ako pagka-presidente, wag nila akong ganunin. Galing na ako sa Congress. Nag-mayor ako, nag-congressman ako, nag-presidente na ako. Do not give me that sh*t," he said.

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He also denied receiving invitation from the quad committee, despite the response of his legal counsel that he cannot make it to the Congressional hearing.

"In fairness to the idiots, wala akong na-notice na pupunta ako ngayon. Sabihin mo nga sa mga hindot na yan," he said.

"What is there to say or more to what I have said. Sinabi ko naman lahat. Ano pa ang gusto ng mga g**o?" he added.

Garma says Duterte tapped 'Davao Model' on killing drug suspects

The former president also accused Rep. Dan Fernandez and Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. of committing subornation of perjury after allegations of "forced admissions" from resource persons.

PNP Drug Enforcement Group P/Col. Hector Grijaldo earlier claimed before the Senate Blue Ribbon Subcommittee investigating the Duterte administration's drug war that House QuadCom co-chair Dan Fernandez told him to confirm the drug war rewards system.

"You are not supposed to talk to a witness because a mere suggestion na ito ang sabihin mo, unless you are a lawyer, but if you are the judge o sa kabila ka, it would be highly improper. It would be stupid of you to be talking to the other party, delicadeza yan eh," he said.

Fernandez and Abante denied the claim of Grijaldo.

Former police colonel Royina Garma earlier admitted during the House Quad Committee hearing that the Duterte administration used the "Davao Model" in the reward system for police officers who kill drug suspects.

She said in an affidavit that cash rewards for drug-related killings ranged from P20,000 to P1 million, depending on the target.

Duterte has denied Garma's allegations, saying he never ordered the police to kill individuals involved in illegal drugs without due cause.

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