House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

Speaker Martin Romualdez passionately defended on Monday afternoon, Nov. 4 the House of Representatives inquiry on the previous Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs, and vowed that he won't allow the country to plunge back into "darkness".

“Sa mga nagtatangka na pigilan tayo sa paghahanap ng katotohanan at katarungan, isa lamang ang sasabihin ko sa inyo: hindi kayo magtatagumpay sa masamang hangarin ninyo,” Romualdez told his fellow congressmen in a speech during the resumption of sessions Monday.

(To those who are attempting to stop our search for truth and justice, I only have one thing to tell you: you will not succeed in your evil schemes.)

“Dahil unti-unti na nating nakikita ang liwanag at katotohanan, asahan natin na lalo pang titindi ang pag-atake sa ating institusyon. Subalit hindi tayo matitinag. Hindi tayo papayag na muling bumalik ang panahon ng kadiliman at kasamaan,” he underscored. 

(Since we are slowly seeing the glimmers of truth, we should expect the attacks on our institution to intensify. But we will not be cowed. We will not allow darkness and evil to reign once again.)

The inquiry on former president Rodrigo Duterte's anti-illegal drug campaign--which allegedly has a death toll of over 30,000--is being carried out by the House quad-committee or quad-comm. 

Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers serves as overall chairman of the special four-way panel. So far, it has carried out nine marathon hearings, with the last few hearings heavily focused on the circumstancecircumstances of the drug war.

The Senate, through its Blue Ribbon Committee, recently launched a parallel inquiry on the matter. For pundits, this indicates that the House-based investigation has been gaining traction.

'On the right side of history'

The Speaker says he House of the People is “on the right side of history" when it comes to pursuing the particular probe in aid of legislation.

“And make no mistake--no matter the challenges, no matter the opposition--we will stand our ground,” added the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) and Leyte 1st district congressman.

“We will not yield to intimidation or pressure. We will not be swayed by the attacks hurled against us. Instead, we will press on with even greater resolve, knowing that the people are behind us, that history will remember our courage, and that our efforts are guided by the principles of justice and integrity,” he stressed.

Romualdez reminded quad-comm probers that those “who seek to hide the truth will always resist, and our efforts are not immune to attack...We are here for the people, for the truth, and for the enduring ideals of this Republic.”

“Our work transcends personal ambition; it is about laying the foundation for a nation that is free, just, and governed by the rule of law. We are building a legacy that our children and grandchildren can look back on with pride,” he said.

Romualdez says the quad-comm "represents not just a legislative effort but embodies our shared commitment to truth, justice, and accountability".

“Through their outstanding ability to elicit truth from even the most reticent witnesses and sources, combined with significant information gathered from confidential channels, the Quad Committee members have demonstrated a burning resolve to identify and remedy deficiencies in our laws,” he said.

He said the mega-panel’s hearings “have heightened public awareness, fostering a deepened commitment to transparency and accountability".

The Speaker said the leaders and members of the joint panel have filed two bills that seek to plug loopholes in existing laws.

These are House Bill (HB) No.10986, or the “Anti-Extrajudicial Killing Act,” and HB No.10987, or the “Anti-Offshore Gaming Operations Act.”

The “Anti-Extrajudicial Killing Act” explicitly classifies extrajudicial killing as a heinous crime.