Quad comm seeks crimes against humanity raps vs Duterte, Bato, Bong Go

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives quad committee has recommended the filing of crimes against humanity complaints against former President Rodrigo Duterte and his key allies for their role in the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) in the drug war.

During his sponsorship speech at the House session on Wednesday, quad committee lead presiding officer and Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said the four panels are recommending charges against Duterte and the following individuals for violating Republic Act No. 9851 or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity:

• former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa
• former special assistant to the president and Senator Christopher Lawrence Go
• former PNP chief Oscar Albayalde
• former PNP chief Debold Sinas
• former police colonel Royina Garma
• former National Police Commission commissioner Edilberto Leonardo
• Go’s aide Irmina “Muking” Espino

“These actions underscore the progress achieved through our investigations in addressing systemic crimes and abuses. We have also recommended amendments to relevant laws […] these measures aim to strengthen our legal frameworks and ensure that such abuses and misdeeds are prevented in the future,” Barbers said.

Before Barbers revealed the quad committee’s recommendation, Antipolo 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop had summarized the 13 hearings conducted by the four panels as part of its progress report, saying they have uncovered tracks to a “grand criminal enterprise” with Duterte at the center.

Acop, overall vice chairperson of the quad committee, said Duterte and his trusted officials have figured in discussions in the hearing, even though his administration strongly advocated against crime and illegal drugs.

According to Acop, testimonies from individuals invited by the quad committee — like dismissed Police colonel Eduardo Acierto, former Customs intelligence officer Jimmy Guban, ex-Customs broker Mark Taguba, and self-confessed Duterte hitman Arturo Lascañas — have pinpointed to a select group of individuals all with links to Duterte.

However, Acop pointed out that despite the war on drugs, individuals linked to the illegal drug trade who were deemed close to Duterte — like former presidential economic adviser Michael Yang — were not investigated thoroughly.

Acop said that instead of looking into Acierto’s report implicating Yang, Duterte chose to turn a blind eye to it and threatened Acierto.

Several of Duterte’s relatives and allies were subject to the quad committee’s investigation into the illicit drug trade, extrajudicial killings, and illegal activities inside Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) hubs.

For example, Duterte’s son Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte was accused by Guban and Taguba of being involved in smuggling, including the entry of shabu concealed in magnetic lifters in August 2018.

READ: ‘Don’t name Paolo Duterte, Mans Carpio, Yang in 2018 shabu import mess’

Taguba last December 13 said that Rep. Duterte heads the Davao group, which was responsible for smuggling operations in the Bureau of Customs.

INQUIRER.net had contacted Rep. Duterte’s office for his reaction on the issue, but his staffer said that the lawmaker would not issue a statement since he did not know Taguba.

Previously, Rep. Duterte also disputed Guban’s accusations against him being involved in the magnetic lifter scheme. According to the lawmaker, he did not know Guban and has never transacted with the former BOC official.

Yang’s name also floated as part of discussions of Pogos and illegal drugs.  Duterte, however, told quad committee members in a previous hearing he would personally kill Yang if there was evidence linking him to the drug trade.