PDP Laban slams Quadcomm’s move against Duterte et al

The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP Laban) criticized the House Quad Committee (QuadComm) for recommending charges against its chairperson, former President Rodrigo Duterte, over the previous administration’s war on drugs campaign.

“The PDP Laban strongly condemns the move of the House of Representatives QuadComm recommending the filing of charges against former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (FPRRD), Senators Bato dela Rosa, and Bong Go, among others, over the alleged crimes committed during the anti-drug war of the past administration,” the party stated on Thursday.

PDP Laban denounced the QuadComm’s actions as “politically driven” and lacking “evidentiary basis.”

“This act by QuadComm is clearly politically motivated and lacks clear legal and evidentiary basis, as the testimonies gathered during the hearings were obtained under pressure or coercion, with the resource persons consistently threatened with contempt if they did not adhere to QuadComm’s script,” the party said.

The party further accused the QuadComm of conducting its investigations “without due process” and claimed it demonstrated “a strong bias against Duterte.” They argued this bias was carried over from hearings by another House committee investigating Vice President Sara Duterte for alleged fund misuse.

The reference was to the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability’s inquiry into the budget allocation and use by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education during the younger Duterte’s tenure. The inquiry included P612.5 million in confidential funds.

“This clearly shows that the House of Representatives has launched a carefully planned, well-funded, but poorly executed demolition job against FPRRD and his allies ahead of the 2025 elections,” PDP Laban asserted.

The party also criticized QuadComm’s apparent haste in reaching its recommendations.

“The PDP Laban questions the speed at which the QuadComm’s recommendations were finalized, as its last hearing on the issue was held less than a week ago,” it said.

“This clearly demonstrates that the QuadComm had an inherent bias against FPRRD and his allies, railroading the process to coerce and threaten witnesses, including abusing its powers of contempt against ‘uncooperative’ resource persons,” the party added.

PDP Laban maintained that “no amount of propaganda or disinformation can ever change the unprecedented anti-crime legacy of the Duterte administration.”