Samantala, hinamon ng dalawang mambabatas sa Mababang Kapulungan ng Kongreso si dating pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na magpakalalaki at dumalo sa pagdinig ng Quad Committee kung talagang seryoso ito sa kanyang banta na sisipain ang dalawang miyembro ng komite.

“With all due respect Mr. FPRRD, don’t make any more excuses in not attending our hearings. Please make sure to be around on Wednesday, so that you can make true your threat to kick congressmen as you have repeatedly warned,” ani Zambales Rep. Jay Khonghun.

Ginawa ng mambabatas ang pahayag matapos bantaan ni Duterte ang dalawang chairman ng komite na sina Reps. Dan Fernandez at Bienvenido Abante Jr., matapos madismaya ang mga ito sa hindi pagdalo ng dating pangulo sa ika-10 pagdinig noong Huwebes.

“Be here at the Quad Comm hearing, and go ahead, kick us if that will make you happy. I’m very sure your supporters nationwide will also be watching on national TV or YouTube, ready to give you the loudest applause you want to hear,” ayon pa kay Khonghun.

Sinabi naman ni House Assistant Majority Leader Paolo Ortega V na hindi magagawang sipain ni Duterte ang kanilang mga kasamahan hangga’t hindi ito humaharap nang personal sa imbestigasyon sa extra-judicial killings (EJK).

Dahil dito, kailangang humarap si Duterte at panindigan ang pangako ng kanyang abogado na si Martin Delgra III na tatapusin lang ang Undas matapos indiyanin ang imbestigasyon noong nakaraang linggo.

“How can you kick us if you don’t physically attend the hearings? Be man enough to do it. I suppose you’re a man of your word. Don’t make empty threats. Please make no mistake: while we respect you, by no stretch of the imagination does this mean we’re afraid of you. Give us respect, too,” patutsada ni Ortega. (BERNARD TAGUINOD)