The Lower House Quad Committee, in its investigation in aid of legislation into former President Rodrigo Duterte’s alleged extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during his war on illegal drugs, has concluded its inquiry, which ran from August 16 to December 12, 2024, spanning 13 hearings.
In its 43-page report, the committee, chaired by Representative Robert Barbers and co-chaired by Representatives Benny Abante, Dan Fernandez, and Joseph Stephen Paduano, recommended the filing of criminal charges for violations of Republic Act 9851, An Act Defining and Penalizing Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity. The charges target former President Rodrigo Duterte, along with incumbent Senators Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and Christopher “Bong” Go.
The recommendation also includes former Philippine National Police (PNP) chiefs Oscar Albayalde and Debold Sinas, former colonels Royina Garma and Edilberto Leonardo, as well as Palace aide Herminia Espino.
According to the Quad Committee report, one of the bases for the recommendation is the former president’s unequivocal admission of the existence of a reward system aimed at drug personalities. The report further cited Duterte’s acknowledgment of using leftover campaign funds to finance and support this system, which violates Commission on Elections (Comelec) rules regarding the return of excess campaign funds.
