In a baffling display of cowardice, former president Rodrigo Duterte has shown more enthusiasm for a Senate hearing—where he’s shielded by his longtime allies Senators Bato dela Rosa and Bong Go—than for the QuadComm proceedings investigating alleged abuses in his anti-drug campaign which have been ongoing since August. The QuadComm has been calling for Duterte to appear, but all they’ve received are flimsy excuses. The most recent? A pathetic excuse about travel costs: “Sipain ko sila. T*ng*n*. Pera nila [ang gagastusin?] Wala na akong pera eh. Magpamasahe ako roon? I am living on my retirement pay. Wala akong extra money nasa bangko. Lahat sweldo ko yan, pati retirement ko. Sila pa ang galit ngayon?”

Yet QuadComm, determined to leave Duterte without a single excuse, has now stepped up to cover every peso of his travel and accommodation expenses. Led by chair Robert Ace Barbers along with co-chairs Dan Fernandez, Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr., and Joseph Stephen “Caraps” Paduano, vice chair Romeo Acop, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr., and Deputy Speaker David “Jay-jay” Suarez, the committee has arranged to foot the bill to ensure Duterte’s attendance at the next hearing.

Why is Duterte avoiding the QuadComm hearings? His brutal anti-drug campaign, which left thousands—many from urban poor communities—dead, is under scrutiny for human rights abuses. Testimonies from multiple witnesses have already linked Duterte to extrajudicial killings, and the QuadComm is prepared to dig deep. The Department of Justice has even assigned a special task force to access QuadComm records to pursue these investigations.

But despite formal invitations, Duterte skipped the October 22 and November 7 QuadComm hearings, citing financial constraints, only to later appear at the October 28 Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the same topic. The inconsistency is glaring. The so-called “financial limitations” didn’t seem to matter when he was appearing before his Senate allies. The clincher – Bato is also one of the prime subjects being investigated by the QuadComm. The Senate hearing clearly serves a purpose beyond seeking the truth; it appears to be a self-serving platform, allowing them to defend themselves and attempt to clear their names, even if through deceit.

Hiding behind excuses demeans the very office he once held. It’s absurd that a former president who unleashed one of the most ruthless anti-drug campaigns in the country’s history now claims he can’t attend a hearing for lack of funds. This is no personal attack on Duterte, nor is it a plot. It’s a demand for accountability. The Filipino people deserve answers, and QuadComm’s offer to cover his travel expenses leaves Duterte no reasonable excuse to dodge responsibility.

It won’t be surprising if Duterte comes up with yet another reason to avoid the QuadComm hearings. The pattern of avoidance is clear, but so is the public’s demand: stop the excuses, and face the allegations. The nation is watching. If Duterte has any sense of duty to the Filipino people, he’ll show up—no more excuses.

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