December 19, 2024 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — After four months of hearings, officials of the quad committee of the House of Representatives recommended yesterday the filing of charges against former president Rodrigo Duterte and seven others for alleged extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during his term.
Led by its presiding chairman Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, the panel agreed that Duterte, Senators Ronald dela Rosa and Bong Go, two former chiefs of the Philippine National Police (PNP) along with two police colonels and another one be indicted for about 30,000 EJKs.
“The former president unequivocally confirmed the existence of the reward system targeting drug personalities and using leftover campaign funds to finance and support the reward system, in contravention of Comelec (Commission on Elections) rules concerning the return of excess campaign funds,” Barbers said.
This recommendation was contained in a 43-page progress report submitted before the House plenary, where they delivered their privilege speeches on the last session day of Congress before they go on a Christmas break.
Among the others who should be facing charges for alleged crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court in The Hague were former PNP chiefs Oscar Albayalde and Debold Sinas, former colonels Royina Garma and Edilberto Leonardo and Palace aide Herminia Espino.
Barbers’ co-chairmen Reps. Benny Abante, Dan Fernandez and Joseph Stephen Paduano said these officials should face charges for violating the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide and Other Crimes against Humanity or Republic Act 9851.
The progress report cited the quad comm’s reasons on their recommendation to charge the former president and seven other officials.
“At the start of his term, Duterte pronounced that there were four million drugs users. That figure did not come from the DDB (Dangerous Drugs Board) or any other known source,” the quad comm report said, indicating that the former president bloated the figure to magnify the problem and justify the systematic killings that occurred.
The report further stated that despite the “noises” being made by some quarters identified with the Duterte camp, the DDB, in a study, said the bloody drug war during the previous administration resulted only in a slight decline in the number of drug users in the country.
The quad comm progress report, compiled from 13 hearings held from Aug. 16 to Dec. 12, outlined the facts established, evidence gathered, actions taken and recommendations for remedial legislation concerning EJKs, illegal drugs and illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators.
Malacañang, through Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cesar Chavez, declined to comment on the recommendation of the House quad committee. — Helen Flores
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