Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers (left), Manila 6th district Rep Bienvenido "Benny" Abante Jr. (Facebook)

Chairmen of the House quad-committee (quad-comm) merely brushed off Senatpr Ronald "Batp" dela Rosa claim that the special four-way panel "recruited" witness Police Colonel Jovie Espenido as a way to tarnish the previous Duterte administration's war on drugs. 

Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep . Robert Ace Barbers, the lead chairman of the quad-comm, said they "[have] no idea about witnesses [who are] willing to testify". 

"As long as they have a sworn statement they can present and duly notarized [statement]. We evaluate their value before we accept them as witnesses," he explained. 

Barbers underscored: "We don't want the quad to be used by anyone who has personal or political motives in their willingness to testify." 

Dela Rosa was the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief when former president Rodrigo Duterte launched his bloody anti-drug drive in June 2016. 

During a quad-comm hearing last Wednesday, Aug. 28, Espenido claimed a reward system for drug war kills, which each kill fetching P20,000. 

Espenido said that intelligence funds and Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) money was used in the drug war. The former Albuera, Leyte and Ozamiz City Misamis Occidental police chief also implicated Senator Christopher "Bong" Go. 
 

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https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/28/go-joins-duterte-dela-rosa-as-implicated-persons-in-drug-war-bloodbath

A co-chairman of the quad-comm, Manila 6th district Rep. Bienvenido "Benny" Abante, said it would be better if Dela Rosa would just honor the invites previously sent to him by House members. 

"Senator Bato dela Rosa has been repeatedly invited by the House Committee on Human Rights to air his side on the previous administration's war on drugs. He has likewise been invited by to the hearings of the quad-comm to address issues such as those raised by Lt. Col. Espenido," Abante noted. 

"Perhaps the senator should finally accept our invitation and attend our hearings so he can enlighten the House on the role he played in the war on drugs, as well as explain the directives he gave when he was PNP chief," he said.