Then-President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his speech during the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected local government officials of Davao City and members of the House of Representatives at the Sangguniang Panglungsod Building in Davao City on June 27, 2022. Joey Dalumpines, Presidential Photo/File

MANILA -- Former President Rodrigo Duterte will not be cited in contempt for snubbing an invitation to attend drug war investigations in the House of Representatives, the head of the congressional inquiry panel said on Saturday.

Nearly a month ago, the House QuadComm — which has been looking into the previous administration's drug war — moved to invite Duterte to attend the hearings, but the former president has yet to respond.

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"We've already sent an invitation to the former president. Karapatan niyang tumanggi sa aming invitation. We will accord him the courtesy and respect," said Surigao Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, lead chairperson of the House Quad Committee.

"Wala pong special treatment. Ito ay in deference to him being the former president. Sa aming palagay, karapatan niya yan at yan ay nirerespeto namin," he said.

The QuadCom cited Duterte's former spokesperson Harry Roque twice, for failing to attend one of the hearings, and for not submitting documents relevant to the investigation.

READ: Harry Roque cited in contempt anew by House quad comm for failure to submit docs

Roque cannot invoke his right to privacy because the people's right to access information is higher in the hierarchy of rights, Barbers said.

When asked why Duterte could enjoy a different treatment from Roque, the House lawmaker said: "Wala pong special treatment. Ito ay in deference to him being the former president."

"Dating pangulo ng bansa yan. We extend that courtesy only to the former president. The same courtesy will not be extended sa other kawani ng gobyerno," he said.

Unlike Roque, Duterte has not been tagged by any resource person, Barbers claimed, noting that so far, only 2 former police officials are being probed by the QuadComm.

An invitation was also extended to Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa — Duterte's chief of police at the height of the drug war — but the senator is not compelled to attend House hearings due to inter-parliamentary courtesy, the Surigao representative said.

Duterte launched a crackdown on suspected drug users and peddlers in 2016, shortly after winning the presidential elections. The campaign saw thousands of drug suspects killed, including minors.

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