Five key measures were lodged in the House of Representatives as a result of the marathon hearings of quad-committee (quad-comm), which tackled issues concerning Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO), extrajudicial killings (EJKs), money-laundering, illegal drugs, and former president Rodrigo Duterte's bloody war on drugs.
This was highlighted by quad-comm co-chairman Manila 6th district Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante, in his speech that was read by Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong during the final hearing of the mega-panel on Monday, June 9.
Abante, through Adiong, detailed the measures resulting from the quad-comm investigation into human rights violations and transnational crimes tied to illegal POGO operations.
The proposed measures are the following:
1. House Bill (HB) No. 10986, which classifies extrajudicial killing as a heinous crime and provides reparations to the families of victims;
2. HB No. 10987, which seeks to prohibit all forms of offshore gaming operations in the Philippines;
3. HB No. 11043, which provides for the civil forfeiture of real estate unlawfully acquired by foreign nationals;
4. HB No. 11117, which empowers the state to cancel fraudulently obtained birth certificates; and
5. HB No. 10998, which penalizes conspiracy and proposal to commit espionage.
“We have heard accounts that chilled the soul – of lives discarded like refuse, of uniforms used to conceal lawlessness, of badges used as instruments of fear,” Abante's speech read.
“But we did not turn away. We listened. We dug deep. And, most importantly, we acted. Hindi lang tayo nakinig, hindi lang tayo naawa; tayo ay kumilos (Not only did we listen and show pity, we acted)” Abante, chairman of the Committee on Human Rights, added.
The outgoing Manila solon said these legislative results were proof that congressional oversight can be a path to national correction. “Through our work, we have reminded every evildoer, every coward in uniform, every merchant of death and deceit: your time is over."
Abante also commended the whistleblowers and witnesses who risked safety to testify in the marathon hearings.
“All this has been possible because good people chose not to be silent… To them, we say this: you may escape our reach, but not the long arms of the law,” he stressed.
Abante described the work of the quad-comm not as an end but a beginning. “The beginning of justice… the beginning of reform… the beginning of national repentance.”
Adiong is the senior vice chairman of the Committee on Human Rights, which is one of four committees that comprise the quad-comm.
The vaunted joint panel carried out a total of 15 marathon hearings since it was conceived in August 2024.