Marcos: DOJ to handle recommended raps vs ex-president Duterte, allies

Former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte (INQUIRER / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE)

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Justice (DOJ) will have to review the House of Representatives quad committee’s recommendation to file crimes against humanity complaints against former president Rodrigo Duterte and his allies for their alleged role in the extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs, President Ferdionand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr, said on Thursday.

In an ambush interview in Pasay City on Thursday, Marcos said he was aware of the proposal and noted that it is the DOJ that will have to determine the next steps based on the recommendation.

“May recommendation ang quad-comm, ganoon naman talaga ang proseso (The quad-committee has a recommendation; that’s the process.) When they do an oversight hearing, meron silang findings, ifo-forward nila ngayon sa (they have findings that they will forward to the ) DOJ with their own recommendations as to how to handle the findings in the hearings,” Marcos pointed out.

“The DOJ will look at it and see if there are… it is time to file cases, what cases to file, how to produce the evidence, and we will need to actually build the case up,” he added.

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 incumbent Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa
• former special assistant to the president and incumbent 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

Barbers said the recommendation “underscores the progress achieved through our investigations in addressing systemic crimes and abuses.”