Quadcomm readying final report — Barbers

The House Quad Committee’s investigations into former President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war and illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) are nearing completion, panel chairperson Ace Barbers announced Sunday.

After four months and 12 hearings, Barbers said the committee has enough evidence to file a report, which will be approved in the House plenary, allowing agencies to take further actions.

“We are finalizing the termination and report on POGO,” Barbers said. “As for EJKs (extrajudicial killings), we have extensive evidence, and it may be enough to recommend a bill and actions for the DOJ, PNP, and NBI.”

He was referring to the Department of Justice, the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation.

The mega-panel, formed in August, has been investigating POGOs and crimes linked to them, including illegal drugs, foreign land acquisitions, and the impact of Duterte’s anti-drug campaign on public safety and human rights.

The panel includes the Committees on Human Rights, Public Order, Dangerous Drugs and Public Accounts.

The probe uncovered evidence that POGO operations are linked to drug smuggling, with reports that Chinese nationals used drug proceeds to bribe public officials and acquire land and businesses using fraudulent IDs.

Earlier, the committee revealed 320 landholdings under Willie Ong and associates, owners of Empire 999 Realty, which had a warehouse in Pampanga, where a P3.5 billion drug seizure occurred. Barbers has claimed the company violates foreign ownership laws, as Chinese nationals own 55 percent.

The investigation also revealed an alleged payout scheme in Duterte’s drug war, where police were reportedly paid to kill drug suspects.

Retired colonel Royina Garma claimed rewards ranged from P20,000 to P1 million, based on the target’s prominence, following the “Davao template” developed during Duterte’s mayoral tenure.

Over 7,000 deaths were reported under Duterte’s drug war, though human rights groups estimate the toll exceeds 30,000, mostly affecting low-income families.

Lawyer Maria Kristina Conti has filed charges against Duterte for crimes including murder, illegal arrest and torture.

As a result, the committee has proposed bills to strengthen laws, including harsher penalties for EJKs, quicker cancellation of fraudulent birth certificates, and forfeiture of illegally acquired foreign land.

The committee has also proposed an “Anti-Offshore Gaming Operations Act,” aimed at banning POGOs entirely, with penalties up to P10 million.