The leaders of the House quad-comm on Sunday reaffirmed their strong resolve in combating illegal drugs, insisting their work is about uncovering the truth and upholding justice, not shifting loyalties or political convenience.
Reps. Robert Ace Barbers (Surigao del Norte, 2nd District), Dan Fernandez (Santa Rosa City), Bienvenido “Benny” Abante (Manila City, 6th District), and Romeo Acop (Antipolo City, 2nd District) responded to recent statements by Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, accusing certain lawmakers who once supported the past anti-drug campaign “but are now criticizing it for political gain.”
Dela Rosa, a staunch ally of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and former PNP chief and the architect of the controversial “Oplan Tokhang” anti-drug campaign that claimed thousands of lives, mostly among the urban poor, alleged that these politicians were quick to shift their loyalties and positions depending on who is in power, calling them “unprincipled” and “opportunistic.”
In a joint statement, the House quad-committee leaders emphasized their commitment to ongoing investigations into the illegal drug trade and crimes associated with Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), including their connections to high-profile individuals from the previous administration.
Barbers, chair of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs and the designated chair of Quad-comm, said his resolve in the fight against illegal drugs remains unshaken; and that while he was among the first to commend all the major anti-drug accomplishments in the past, he also was the first to condemn irregularities such as the “Ninja cops”; the summary killings of street level drug pushers and users; the 1,000-kilo stash in Tondo, Manila, the 500-kilo shabu shipment in Pampanga, among others.
“My position in the anti-drug campaign, in the past and in the present, is steadfast and consistent. I openly praise those anti-drug law enforcers who do their job well and assail those who commit abuses and wrongdoing in its implementation,” the lawmaker from Mindanao said.
“As lawmaker and anti-drug panel chair, I cannot just sit idly and do nothing when new witnesses and evidences crops up on alleged abuses, wrongdoings or injustice in the past and at present anti-drug campaign. I should be among the first to investigate them and ferret out the truth” he added.
On the issue hurled against him and some of his colleagues, Barbers said the unprincipled and opportunistic ones are those who allow themselves to follow illegal orders, shut their eyes on abuses, wrongs and injustice committed by their peers and superiors, just to keep their power and positions.
“As public servants, our job is to abide with the Constitution and the rule of law. I never practice blind loyalty to anybody who dish out illegal orders in order to acquire personal gains, and maintain power and influence,” he said.
When new witnesses on drug-related issues crops up, just like convicted felon and former Customs intelligence officer Jimmy Guban, who linked former President Duterte’s economic adviser Michale Yang, the presidential son and presidential son-in-law in alleged big-time smuggling of illegal drugs, Barbers said it is his sworn duty to investigate it and ferret out the truth.
The chair of the anti-drugs panel said the name of Michael Yang had frequently cropped up in the series of House probes of POGOs, illegal drugs, and money laundering, and establishment of Chinese-owned interlocking firms suspected to be engaged in various criminal endeavors.
“Let me emphasize na walang politika dito. Trabaho lang ito. Kung sino man na masangkot na ka-trabaho, kaibigan at kamag-anak sa illegal na droga, lalo na kung malakihan, dapat lang natin imbestigahan at alamin ang katotohanan,” he said.
The quad-committee has been at the forefront of investigating the complex and deeply entrenched criminal activities linked to POGOs and the extrajudicial killings associated with the Duterte administration’s bloody drug war.
These investigations have revealed disturbing connections involving individuals close to former President Duterte, including his son, Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte, his son-in-law Manases “Mans” Carpio, husband of Vice President Sara Duterte, and his former economic adviser Michael Yang.
The House committees had also previously established Yang’s involvement in the P3.6-billion drug bust in Mexico, Pampanga, last year.
Fernandez, who chairs the Committee on Public Order and Safety, reiterated the quad-committee’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
“We owe it to the Filipino people to pursue these investigations wherever they may lead. This is not about shifting allegiances; it’s about ensuring that justice is served,” Fernandez said.
He continued, “We will not be deterred by accusations or attempts to distract us from our mission. The truth must come out, no matter how deep we have to dig.”
Abante, chair of the Committee on Human Rights, stressed the importance of upholding the rule of law.
“No one is above the law, including those who were once in positions of power. Our duty is to the truth and to the people, and we will not be swayed by political convenience,” Abante said.
“The law applies to everyone, and it is our responsibility to ensure that justice is delivered fairly and without bias,” he added.
The quad-committee’s efforts have drawn criticism from some quarters, particularly from allies of the former administration.
However, the committee leaders remain steadfast, with Acop emphasizing that their loyalty is to the Filipino people and the pursuit of justice.
“We are not here to protect or condemn any administration. We are here to ensure that the laws of this country are upheld, and that those who violate them are held accountable,” Acop said.
“There is no politics in the quad-committee’s work; our focus is solely on truth and justice. We stand firm in our duty, and nothing will deter us from fulfilling it,” he stressed.
The leaders of the quad-committee also praised the current administration’s approach to the drug problem, highlighting the effectiveness of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.’s bloodless campaign.
“Under President Marcos, more individuals involved in the illegal drug trade have been apprehended, without the loss of lives that marked the previous approach. It’s a more effective and humane strategy,” Barbers noted.
The quad-committee leaders have made it clear: the fight against illegal drugs is far from over, and their resolve remains as strong as ever.
The panel’s ongoing investigations are expected to have far-reaching implications as they seek to expose and dismantle the networks that have allowed the illegal drug trade to flourish in the Philippines.
