Quezon 2nd district Rep. David "Jay-jay" Suarez (left), Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre (Facebook)

Two ranking congressmen clapped back at Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa on Sunday, Aug. 11 over his recent tirades against the House of Representatives. 

Hitting the senators' remarks were House Deputy Speaker Quezon 2nd district Rep. David “Jay-jay” Suarez and House Deputy Majority Leader Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre. 

Dela Rosa recently accused the House leadership of orchestrating the creation of the quad-committee (quad-comm) to investigate links between the previous Duterte administration’s war on drugs and illegal activities tied to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs). 

The senator, who was a key enforcer of the previous administration’s controversial anti-drug campaign, also alleged that several ranking House members were involved in efforts to implicate him and former president Rodrigo Duterte in the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) currently under scrutiny by the Internationa lCriminal Court (ICC). 

“Senator Dela Rosa’s accusations are not only unnecessary but also unparliamentary and unbecoming of a public servant. The House leadership has always acted with the utmost integrity, and it is highly irresponsible for anyone to suggest that they are behind a witch hunt against Senator Dela Rosa or former President Duterte,” Suarez said. 

Suarez clarified that the quad-comm was formed through the strong consensus of members who overwhelmingly supported the resolution in plenary to investigate the alleged interconnected issues. 

He added that the quad-comm was established to pursue the truth behind serious allegations of illegal activities, not to settle political scores. 

“This investigation is about uncovering the truth behind the syndicates involved in illegal drugs and POGOs. It is not, and never has been, about politics,” Suarez pointed out. 

Menawhile, Acidre criticized Dela Rosa for resorting to personal attacks rather than addressing the serious concerns raised by the ongoing investigation. 

“Senator Dela Rosa’s remarks are deeply disappointing. Instead of cooperating with the investigation to shed light on the issues, he has chosen to launch personal attacks against the House leadership, which has done nothing but ensure that the House exercises its oversight functions effectively,” Acidre, who is also chair of the Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, said. 

READ THIS:

https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/8/barbers-dela-rosa-s-claim-just-marites

Acidre reiterated that the focus of the quad-comm was to investigate the troubling links between EJKs, illegal drugs, and POGOs, as well as to hold accountable those who may have facilitated or protected these activities. 

“The mandate of the quad-committee is clear—to seek the truth and ensure justice. We will not be deterred by baseless accusations,” he said. 

The quad-comm—composed of the Committees on Dangerous Drugs, Public Order and Safety, Human Rights, and Public Accounts—earlier disclosed its plan to invite Dela Rosa, who was Duterte’s first police chief and architect of his bloody drug war. 

Dela Rosa says that he has no plans to attend the joint hearing. 

Surigao del Sur 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, chair of the dangerous drugs panel, had earlier rejected the idea that the quad-comm inquiry would be used against Dela Rosa and Duterte. 

The committee’s first hearing is scheduled for Aug. 15, following its organizational meeting on Aug. 12.