What next?

A few more hearings, and the two chambers of Congress will wrap up their respective probes on the killings in connection with the war on drugs waged by Rodrigo Duterte.

- ANA MARIE PAMINTUAN

Soon, lawmakers will be busy with the campaign for the 2025 elections. And with the change in the compositions of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, it's unlikely that there will be Season 2 of the quad comm and Blue Ribbon subcommittee hearings.

What comes next?

The question is asked because of what the nation has seen after congressional probes ended and the subsequent prosecution efforts – such as in the Pharmally scandal – turned out to be disappointing.

It's not the first time that Congress has conducted a probe into the Davao death squad. Of course, what was lacking in the previous probe was the bombshell admission of Rodrigo Duterte himself.

Testimonies have been given recently that should warrant indictment for heinous offenses, including possible violations of Republic Act 9851, the 2009 Philippine law covering crimes against international humanitarian law, genocide and other crimes against humanity.

Lawmakers have pointed out that pursuing court cases is not their job; it would have to be done by government prosecutors and concerned groups or persons.

Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel, who chairs the Blue Ribbon subcommittee, is running for congressman of Marikina's 1st district. He seems uninterested in calling a second hearing. Perhaps the flak that the first hearing drew, from those who said the subcommittee allowed Duterte to hijack the proceedings, has soured Pimentel to Round 2 with the unapologetic, ever pugnacious and foul-mouthed former president.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, however, may ask for one more round, to clarify inconsistencies in Duterte's statements, particularly in the composition of his death squad in Davao, as well as his denial of Royina Garma's testimony about the cash rewards from Malacañang for drug kills.