Barbers: Bills filed by quad comm target flaws in PH’s legal system

MANILA, Philippines — Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, who leads the lower chamber’s quad committee, underscored on Wednesday the panel’s significant achievements, including the filing of five initial legislative measures aimed at addressing urgent flaws and gaps in the country’s current legal framework.

These particularly concern Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos), extra-judicial killings, civil forfeiture of real estate, and cancellation of birth certificates illegally or fraudulently acquired by foreign nationals.

“Out of the series of hearings conducted by [the] quad committee, lawmakers and the public were informed and enlightened on how criminals and unscrupulous individuals or groups managed to use the flaws, loopholes, and weaknesses on some of our existing laws, in the furtherance of their criminal activities. The quad com is out to review, scrutinize, and come up with new bills or amendments to correct those flaws and gaps in our laws,” Barbers said in a statement.

According to Barbers, the quad committee has so far filed five initial bills as to Pogos, extra-judicial killings, civil forfeiture of real estate, and cancellation of birth certificates.

These are as follows:

• House Bill No. 10986 – Classifying and penalizing extra-judicial killings as a heinous crime, while providing reparations for the victims.
• House Bill No. 10987 – Prohibiting all forms of offshore gaming operations in the country, with severe penalties for violations.
• House Bill No. 11043 – Allowing civil forfeiture of unlawfully acquired real estate properties by foreign nationals.
• House Bill No. 11117 – Providing for the administrative cancellation of birth certificates fraudulently obtained by foreign nationals.
• House Bill No. 10998 – Punishing conspiracy and proposal to commit espionage.

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He then denounced attempts to downplay the panel’s findings, saying it was all too easy for critics, especially those who are paid, to tarnish the reputation and achievements of the quad comm.

“They deliberately ignore or downplay the commission’s significant findings, such as identifying Filipino and Chinese individuals involved in drug smuggling in the country, locals and foreigners shielding Pogos and their various illegal activities, and authorities who provided protection and funds to law enforcement agents responsible for EJKs,” he said in Filipino.