The Senate’s version of the Duterte drug war inquiry will start next week or next month but neither Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa nor Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go will lead the probe.

Senate President Francis Escudero said he prefers either the Blue Ribbon Committee or the Justice Committee to conduct the inquiry, rejecting proposals to convene the Committee of the Whole or assign it to the Committee on Public Order and Illegal Drugs chaired by Dela Rosa.

Dela Rosa and Go are seeking a Senate probe into the bloody drug war that occurred during the term of former President Rodrigo Duterte after the three were implicated as having instigated the killing of thousands through a “reward system” for the police.

Apparently anticipating public condemnation if Dela Rosa and Go are to be allowed to tinker with the Senate probe, Escudero is contemplating at assigning the task to other committees.

The blue ribbon panel or Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations is chaired by Sen. Pia Cayetano.
Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel IIi heads the justice panel

“Sa ilalim ng aming rules ang Blue Ribbon lamagn ang puwedeng mag- motu-propio investigation. So ang direksyon, hindi pa naman pinal, Blue Ribbon ang mag-motu propio investigation habang recess, pero kung magre-resume, malamang ang committee on justice na ang maghi-hearing,”said Escudero.

He told the Senate media that he has seta meeting with Dela Rosa, Go and other senators to discuss the inquiry.

Dela Rosa and Go have been implicated in the massive slaying of suspected drug pushers and addicts by former police Col. Royina Garma, whom Duterte appointed as general manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

Garma claimed that a reward system was initiated by Duterte that was patterned after the Davao City model. Under this system cash rewards are granted law enforcers for killing individuals linked to drug trade.

At least 6,181 people were killed during the war on drugs, many of them via extra judicial killings. Among those slain were innocent individuals and minors.