Pimentel: Listen to drug war victims

SENATE Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said fellow senators should "find time" to hear the sentiments of the families of drug suspects who were killed during the Duterte administration's war on drugs. He made the appeal on Wednesday as Sen. Bong Go sought a parallel Senate inquiry on the bloody anti-drugs campaign. "There should be time alloted for [the probe] as so many were killed [during Duterte's] war on drugs," Pimentel said in a text message. Pimentel said the victims' "grieving families are entitled to serious time and attention coming from senators." "We will leave this to the wisdom of the SP (Senate President) [Francis Escudero] and the plenary," he said when asked on who should lead the probe. Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada said to ensure justice and transparency in Senate proceedings, "it is essential to include" Duterte in the planned investigation of the war on drugs. "There have been precedents where former presidents were invited to shed light on pressing issues, so it will not be the first time for former president Rodrigo Duterte," Estrada said in a statement. In these proceedings, the Senate has "demonstrated a high level of respect towards former presidents, including my father, while pursuing crucial information," he said. "The testimony of the former president on the issue is crucial in uncovering the truth and ensuring that justice is served for all affected parties," Estrada added.