Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives’ quad committee probing the drug war can release a partial committee report if the Department of Justice (DOJ) and other government agencies need it to kickstart their own investigations, Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said.
In an online interview with reporters on Monday, Barbers was asked about Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez’s statements that the department will initiate a preliminary investigation into the past administration’s drug war once it receives reports and affidavits from the quad committee.
In response, Barbers said he thinks a committee report is not needed for the Executive branch to take action since the testimonies were stated publicly. However, the lawmaker, who is the lead presiding officer of the quad committee, said they will provide a report if it is needed.
“Because there are testimonies, there is documentary evidence that can be used as a basis by the DOJ to act by means of conducting a preliminary investigation, we think that if we need to release a committee report before they act… We think it is not needed anymore before they act,” Barbers told reporters.
“It’s because there was an admission to a crime that happened. But if that is a necessary requirement, then we will craft a partial committee report so that they will have a basis to pursue the case build-up and the preliminary investigation,” he added.
On Sunday, Vasquez said that they would start an investigation once the quad committee released a report when he was asked if the DOJ would probe the discoveries made during the hearings.
“We will initiate the preliminary investigation and case build-up once Congress refers its committee report together with the affidavits or when somebody files a complaint against those responsible. Here, it could be the police or private complainants. There must be an initiatory process,” Vasquez told reporters in a message.
READ: DOJ to start drug war probe upon receiving House quad panel report
Throughout the quad committee hearings, several incidents of alleged extrajudicial killings (EJKs) were discussed.
Some of the examples were the killing of three Chinese nationals in 2016, supposedly carried out by two inmates tapped by police officers; the assassination of former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office board secretary Wesley Barayuga in July 2021; and the recent admission from former police colonel Royina Garma that a police officer she knew bragged about killing former Tanauan Mayor Antonio Halili.
In the 2016 case, self-confessed hitman Leopoldo Tan said a certain SPO4 Arthur Narsolis — his high school classmate — supposedly relayed to him the orders to kill the Chinese nationals. Tan said he heard Bureau of Corrections S/Supt. Gerardo Padilla talking on the phone with former President Rodrigo Duterte, who congratulated the prison officials for a job well done.
Padilla initially denied knowing about the hit, but he eventually admitted that he indeed talked to Duterte who congratulated him.
READ: Duterte ordered killing of Chinese inmates, BuCor exec confirms
Regarding Barayuga’s case, Police Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza testified that Garma and former police colonel Edilberto Leonardo masterminded the killing of the PCSO official.
READ: Cop regrets following PNPA senior’s order to kill PCSO’s Barayuga
Last October 2, Barbers urged the DOJ to file complaints against the alleged masterminds behind the killing of Barayuga, saying that the DOJ does not need to wait for the House of Representatives’ quad committee to finish its joint committee report.
READ: DOJ told: File raps vs Barayuga slay masterminds, don’t wait for House
Barbers gave the same reasons — that there are already pieces of evidence raised during the quad committee hearings.