House Endorses Quad-Committee Charges Against Duterte
The House of Representatives firmly backed the quad-committee’s recommendation to file charges against former President Rodrigo Duterte related to extrajudicial killings during his administration’s drug war. The 300-member House adopted the quad-committee’s final report, including its findings and recommendations, during the plenary session on the evening of June 10.
Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, chair of the quad-committee, sponsored Committee Report No. 1501. The report calls for criminal charges against Duterte under Section 6 (Other Crimes Against Humanity) of Republic Act No. 9851. This marks the House’s continued support of the quad-committee’s stance on accountability for the drug war’s violent legacy.
Charges Extend to Police and Senators
The quad-committee also recommended filing similar charges against Senators Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and Christopher “Bong” Go, former Philippine National Police chiefs Oscar Albayalde and Debold Sinas, and Police Colonels Royina Garma and Edilberto Leonardo. These recommendations echo the earlier partial report presented in December 2024.
On Tuesday, lawmakers reaffirmed their support for these actions for a second time, signaling a unified stance on addressing the alleged abuses during the drug war. The committee additionally sought murder charges against Duterte and several police officials over the killing of three Chinese inmates in the Davao Prison on August 13, 2016.
Quad-Committee’s Extensive Investigation
Since August 2024, the quad-committee has conducted 15 exhaustive hearings exploring interrelated issues such as Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO), extrajudicial killings, money laundering, illegal drugs, and Duterte’s controversial drug campaign. Duterte himself appeared once as a resource person.
Barbers acknowledged the initial skepticism surrounding the quad-committee, stating, “Initially, quad-comm was looked down as just another political vehicle tasked to persecute those who are perceived to be in the opposition and those whose political beliefs are critical of the administration. It was not easy to overcome the negative bashings that were thrown our way.”
Despite this, Barbers emphasized the committee’s dedication: “The entire quad-comm team did not waste time and forthwith buckled down to work. Quad-comm was able to prove the critics wrong. It does not exist for political persecutions [or] cheap propaganda. It is not an administration tool to destroy the opposition nor a vehicle to advance one’s political ambitions.”
Evidence-Based Recommendations
The committee report, signed by Barbers and co-chairs Dan Fernandez, Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr., and Joseph Stephen “Caraps” Paduano, is grounded in solid testimonial and documentary evidence presented during hearings and research.
It also calls for a deeper investigation into alleged joint bank accounts held by Duterte and his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, which reportedly received funds from a drug-linked financier. The report urges comprehensive reforms, including amendments to the Bank Secrecy Act, Anti-Dummy Law, and Anti-Money Laundering Act.
Moreover, the panel recommends creating an independent Internal Affairs Service for the police, new laws on custodial deaths and autopsies, and reparations for families of drug war victims.
“This is not just about policy failures. This is about killings ordered and protected by the highest officials of the land. The time for accountability has come,” the quad-committee declared.
For more news and updates on extrajudicial killings, visit Filipinokami.com.