HOUSE PROBE. The House of Representatives quad committee holds its fifth hearing into interconnected issues of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, illegal drugs, money-laundering and extrajudicial killings on Sept. 12, 2024. House Committee on Human Rights chairperson and Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. (2nd from left) said on Monday (Sept. 23) the hearings will continue even during recess. (File photo courtesy of HRep Press and Public Affairs Bureau)
MANILA – The House of Representatives quad committee (quadcom) will continue to hold hearings into interconnected issues of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), illegal drugs, money-laundering and extrajudicial killings (EJKs) even during recess, a House leader announced on Monday.
In an interview, House Committee on Human Rights chairperson and Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr., co-chair of the quad-committee, said the House investigation has revealed a wide and complex trail that demand further scrutiny.
"We will continue kahit break sapagkat nakita po namin iyung involvement ng isang sindikato at nakita rin po natin na napakalaki ng involvement ng ilang mga heneral dito. Unless otherwise mabuwag natin at makita natin sa loob ng Philippine National Police (PNP) ang mga heneral na involved sa drugs, hindi mawawala ang drug problem sa Pilipinas (even during the break because we have seen the involvement of a syndicate, and we have also seen the significant involvement of some generals. Unless we dismantle this and uncover the generals involved in drugs within the Philippine National Police, the drug problem in the Philippines will not go away)," Abante said.
Despite six previous marathon hearings, Abante said it will take more time to uncover everything that needs to be exposed.
"Palagay ko mahaba-haba pa. We would like to finish that kasi malapit na ang filing [ng certificates of candidacy] di ba? You know ‘pag nag-file ka parang campaign period na ‘yan so talagang sabi ko nga eh we have to be in our own district para mag-barangay na kami pero (I think there's still quite a long way to go, but we would like to finish this because the filing of [certificates of candidacy] is coming up soon, right? You know, once you file, it's like campaign season already. So, as I said, we have to be in our own districts to focus on [campaigning] in barangays, but) still, we really have to finish this job," Abante said.
Abante said the focus of the quadom's hearing this week is on EJKs during the Duterte administration.
During the sixth hearing, former Iloilo City mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog claimed that former president Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial narco-list was weaponized to target his political rivals.
Mabilog, who returned this month after seven years of self-exile in the United States, denied involvement in illegal drugs.
“Ang next hearing will be this week. Ang pag-uusapan naman EJK. Maganda ito sapagkat ito ‘yung binabanggit ninyo tungkol kay (The next hearing will be this week and we will discuss the EJKs. This is good because this is what was mentioned [by the media] about) Jed Mabilog. We are going to invite him again)," Abante said.
Meanwhile, Antipolo City 2nd district Rep. Romeo Acop, vice chair of the Quadcom, warned that the panel would be forced to seek the arrest of Mylah Roque, wife of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, if she fails to comply with the show-cause order issued against her.
“Pwede naman siya pumunta at magsabi na 'I refuse to answer' dahil ma self-incriminate siya…Kung di siya pupunta, isa ‘yan sa pinakamabigat sa rules namin na pwede siyang ma-cite (She can come and say that 'I refuse to answer' because it might self-incriminate her. If she doesn't show up, that's one of the most serious rules we have, and she could be cited) in contempt for not respecting our invitation,” Acop said in an interview.
Roque’s wife didn't attend the hearing on Sept. 19 but informed the committee through a letter that she underwent medical treatment in Singapore.
Harry Roque is being linked to illegal POGOs while his wife was invited to clarify her involvement in signing a lease agreement with Chinese nationals allegedly linked to an illegal hub in Bamban, Tarlac. (PNA)
