Ex-Speaker Alvarez: Quad comm hearing was a dud, House must stop it

HOUSE PROBE Former President Rodrigo Duterte testifies at the House of Representatives quad committee hearing on Nov. 13, 2024. (Photo from NIÑO JESUS ORBETA)

MANILA, Philippines — Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez believes the House of Representatives should stop conducting quad committee hearings as no new issue surfaced when former President Rodrigo Duterte was invited as a resource person.

In a statement on Monday, Alvarez said the things that Duterte mentioned during the November 13 hearing of the quad committee were not surprising.

He recalled that the remarks Duterte made were already part of the former president’s previous campaign promise.

“Natapos ang pagdinig na walang lumabas na bago. Walang mahalagang bagong impormasyon, at walang batayan para sa anumang kaso na puwedeng isampa,” Alvarez observed.

(The hearing was completed without anything new coming out. There was no significant new information and there was no basis formed for any case to be filed.)

“Lahat ng sinabi ni Pangulong Duterte, sinabi na rin nya dati yan. Ipinangako pa nga nya noong 2016. Suportado ng taong bayan yung desisyon nya simula nang war on drugs, crime at corruption,” he said.

(All the things that former President Duterte mentioned, he already said before. He promised these things in 2016. The people supported his decision to wage war against drugs, crime and corruption.)

“Mas magandang tigilan na ng Kongreso yung quad comm. Sayang lang oras at resources. Dapat naka-focus ang Kongreso sa totoong mga isyu – presyo ng mga bilihin, trabaho para sa mga tao, labanan ang kriminalidad,” he noted.

(It’s better if Congress stops the quad comm. It’s a waste of time and resources. Congress should be focused on real issues – rising prices of goods, more jobs, and the fight against crime.)

Furthermore, Alvarez accused the quad committee of just trying to “discredit” a potential candidate for the 2028 presidential elections.

According to Alvarez, a former speaker of the House, this should prompt Duterte to seek a return to Malacañang in 2028.

“Hindi kailangang maging henyo para maintindihan yung nangyayari. Mas malaki pa boto ni VP Sara (Duterte) kay BBM (President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.),” the lawmaker pointed out.

(We do not have to be geniuses to understand what happened. VP Sara accumulated more votes than BBM.)

“Dagdag pa natin, mataas ang frustrations ng taong-bayan sa administrasyon pagdating sa mga pangakong hindi nagkatotoo,” Alvarez said. “Bumaba ba ang presyo ng bigas? Hindi naman di ba? Tumaas pa nga.”

(Also, the frustrations of the people are high when it comes to promises that were not fulfilled. Has the price of rice decreased? No, right? It even increased.)

“Alam ninyo, ang nakalagay sa 1987 Constitution — ‘The President shall not be eligible for any reelection.’ It refers to the sitting or incumbent President not allowed for reelection, para maiwasan yung ginawa ni Marcos Sr. na tuloy-tuloy siya sa Malacañang – walang interruption ng dalawang dekada,” Alvarez said.

(You know, it is stated in the 1987 Constitution — ‘The President shall not be eligible for any reelection.’ It refers to the sitting or incumbent President not being allowed for reelection – to avoid what Marcos Sr. did when he stayed in Malacañang – no interruption for two decades.)

“Hindi yan dapat mag-apply sa dating Pangulo na hindi na incumbent. Pwede na syang (Duterte) tumakbo ulit,” he added.

(That should not apply to an incumbent president. He (Duterte) can run again.)

Duterte was present at the quad committee hearing on November 13, which was initially cancelled as the panels’ leaders preferred to validate first the testimonies from potential witnesses.

However, the quad committee lead presiding officer and Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said they decided to push through with the hearing to maximize Duterte’s attendance.

READ: Quad comm hearing went on to maximize Duterte’s presence – Barbers 

Several issues were tackled like alleged human rights violations in the Duterte administration’s drug war.

These include claims that police officers who killed drug suspects were rewarded with money, and the former president’s order to encourage criminals to fight back so they could be killed.

READ: Drug war successful, prevalence of narcotics minimized – Duterte 

There were instances when Duterte issued contradicting statements.

At one point in the hearing, he said excess campaign funds were used to reward police officers, adding that it is a common practice for town mayors.

During some parts of the hearing though, the former president denied the allegations from retired police colonel Royina Garma.

Garma said Duterte called her in May 2016 to discuss the implementation of a Davao model on war against drugs in a nationwide scale.

According to her, the Davao template is a system where cash grants worth P20,000 to P1 million are given to cops who kill drug suspects.

READ: Garma says Davao drug war template, rewards system applied in entire PH 

With regards to concern if Duterte can still mount a national campaign in 2028, Alvarez believes the former president is still strong physically, as he was able to endure a grueling hearing.

“As you saw, they grilled former President Duterte for 13 hours, but he is still strong, and his heart is in the right place… truly with the people […],” the lawmaker said.

“Let him run. Let the people decide, and if there is a legal issue, let the courts resolve it,” Alvarez went on to say.

“Why won’t we campaign for Rodrigo Roa Duterte again for president in 2028? Let him finish all the syndicates in society and in government,” he urged the people.

“You have seen it. Unlike other politicians who are controlled by big individuals, Duterte is not like that. He is one of us,” he added.