House Quad-Committee Prepares Final Hearing
The House quad-committee is set to conclude its series of hearings on Monday, June 9. The House quad-committee has been closely examining several critical issues since August 2024. Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, chairing the quad-committee, confirmed that this will be their last hearing before submitting the final report.
“Yung ang last hearing namin sa quad-comm at we will terminate the hearings. At kami ay magsa-submit ng aming final committee report no,” Barbers told reporters on June 4. This quad-committee consists of the Committees on Dangerous Drugs, Public Order and Safety, Human Rights, and Public Accounts.
Potential Last Surprise in Final Hearing
When asked if the June 9 hearing would include any new resource persons or witnesses, Barbers declined to reveal details, saying, “As we always do in the quad-comm, surprise no.” This leaves the public anticipating a possible unexpected development in the closing session.
Since its inception, the quad-committee has tackled interconnected concerns involving Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO), extrajudicial killings (EJKs), money laundering, illegal drugs, and the controversial drug war during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration. Among the high-profile witnesses was Duterte himself, who appeared during the marathon hearings.
Highlights and Viral Moments
The quad-committee hearings have drawn significant attention, sometimes resembling must-watch television. Vloggers and social media users have widely shared moments from these sessions, amplifying public interest.
Executive Branch Actions in Focus
Barbers emphasized that the final committee report will also review the executive branch’s response to earlier recommendations. “If you recall, last year, in November, nag-file kami ng partial committee report. And we wanted to get the progress of that recommendations that we made,” he added.
“Kailangan malaman namin kung ano ba yung aksyon na ginawa ng executive department doon sa aming recommendations,” Barbers explained. The quad-committee has conducted sufficient hearings about drugs, extrajudicial killings, public accountability, and peace and order to make a thorough assessment.
Partial Report and Legal Recommendations
The partial committee report, adopted by the plenary in December 2024, recommended filing charges against former President Duterte and his allies Senators Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and Christopher “Bong” Go for their roles in the drug war. Barbers said, “We want to know the extent of the actions taken doon sa partial committee report namin. At kapag hindi, iyon ay isa-summary namin sa aming final committee report.”
Currently, Duterte faces trial for crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Meanwhile, Dela Rosa and Go secured reelection in the 2025 midterm elections.
For more news and updates on House quad-committee, visit Filipinokami.com.