Ridon Leads Quad Committee, Revitalizing House Leadership
MANILA, Philippines — The election of Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon as chairperson of the committee on public accounts marks the completion of the quad committee leadership in the 20th Congress. This move highlights the House of Representatives’ effort to advance unfinished business from previous sessions.
During Wednesday’s plenary, Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan appointed Ridon, a member of the Minority bloc, to head the panel. The committee on public accounts is traditionally one of two panels reserved for the Minority, alongside the committee on ethics and privileges.
A statement from the Office of Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez noted that Ridon, a lawyer educated at the University of the Philippines and Harvard University, now fills the last leadership role in the joint quad committee. This reactivation signals a renewed commitment under Speaker Romualdez to tackle unresolved issues concerning state-enabled violence, corruption, and impunity—many of which were highlighted during the 19th Congress and were recently brought back into focus by the disappearance of sabungeros, or cockfighting enthusiasts.
Reviving the Quad Committee’s Mission
The committee on public accounts is among four panels that make up the quad committee. This group played a crucial role in exposing illegal activities related to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), the illicit drug trade, human rights violations during the previous administration’s drug war, and allegations of reward payments to police officers involved in drug suspect killings.
The other three panels are the committees on dangerous drugs, public order and safety, and human rights. For the 20th Congress, Bukidnon 2nd District Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores will lead the dangerous drugs committee. Manila 2nd District Rep. Rolando Valeriano heads the public order and safety panel, while Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. returns to chair the human rights committee.
New Leadership and Continuing Legacy
Valeriano expressed his hope to match the performance of previous quad committee leaders. Among the current chairs, only Abante previously held the human rights committee chair during the 19th Congress. Meanwhile, some former leaders like Fernandez, Barbers, and Paduano have reached term limits and did not seek reelection.
With Ridon now leading the committee on public accounts, the quad committee is poised to continue its vital oversight role. The renewed focus aims to address lingering issues of corruption, violence, and impunity that affect the country’s governance and public trust.
For more news and updates on quad committee leadership, visit Filipinokami.com.
