House leaders express frustration over Duterte's unclear attendance at drug war hearing

House leaders in the Philippines expressed frustration over former President Rodrigo Duterte's unclear intentions regarding his attendance at a drug war hearing. They noted that Duterte's camp suggested he would attend, but the hearing was rescheduled to November 21 without official confirmation from him. The committee had previously invited Duterte multiple times, but he declined to attend, citing concerns about the committee's integrity. Lawmakers emphasized that the cancellation of the November 13 hearing was due to witness preparation issues, not fear of confrontation. Duterte's legal team claimed he arrived in Manila just as the hearing was canceled. House leaders stated that the postponement would not be reversed and highlighted the need to follow procedural rules. They also drew parallels between Duterte and his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, who has similarly avoided congressional inquiries.