QuadComm eyes criminal charges vs. perpetrators of drug war slays

A partial committee report on the probe of the House Quad Committee (QuadComm) on the Duterte Administration's drug war may already be released next week, according to lead chair and Surigao del Norte lawmaker Ace Barbers. 

Barbers said on Friday that the report will include a recommendation of filing criminal charges against individuals who killed drug suspects and personalities.

“Hopefully, sana nga bago matapos ‘yung Linggo next week, meron na kaming masubmit na partial report. That will include recommendations for prosecution [of criminal charges]. [Because] if we recommend the filing of charges, then the DOJ (Department of Justice) will step in, conduct their preliminary investigation with the PNP (Philippine National Police) and other agencies for case build-up,” Barbers told reporters in an online interview.

“The report is partial, and only based on the evidence we are in possession of. For one, the killing of three Chinese individuals convicted of drug charges in Davao Penal Colony. Halimbawa, ‘yung tatlong Chinese na drug lords na napatay sa loob ng Dapicol. Two suspects admitted to killing them. [Retired] Colonel [Royina] Garma also mentioned details that could be included in the partial committee report. The Barayuga case will also be included, given that the PNP Chief [Rommel Marbil] already ordered the reinvestigation of that case,” Barbers said.

Charges vs. Duterte?

Barbers, however, said the the QuadComm has not decided yet if the partial committee report will already include the testimony of Garma wherein she claimed that President Rodrigo Duterte implemented a Davao model on the war on drugs, one in which rewards are given to the killing of drug suspects ranging from P20,000 to P1 million per drug suspect killed.

Colonel Jovie Espenido also told the House QuadComm that police were required to visit 50 to 100 households of suspected drug users and traffickers a day and were rewarded P100,000 for successful drug busts during the Duterte administration.

“Let’s just wait for the final version of our partial committee report because we still have to refer to the affidavits, testimony that we are reviewing right now,” Barbers said.

Senate probe

As this developed, Barbers said that the proposed parallel Senate inquiry on drug war killings during the Duterte administration will only be useful if there are new witnesses who will testify.

“We welcome the proposal of having a parallel Senate inquiry, but what is more important here kung meron mga bagong mga witnesses na haharap at magbibigay ng mga bagong pahayag. Well and good ‘yan (parallel inquiry- kasi naka-align yan sa objective at layunin ng QuadComm na maglabas talaga ng katotohanan,” Barbers said.

“Pero if the same personalities ang maimbitahan and the same testimony ang ilalabas nila, parang sa tingin ko, parang hindi na siguro dapat bigyan ng weight,” Barbers added.

In a separate statement, Manila lawmaker Benny Abante called on Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who wants to lead the Senate probe on drug war deaths, to come clean regarding the funds used for the system that rewarded police officials with money for each of the drug suspect they killed.

Dela Rosa, who served as a PNP chief during the Duterte administration before he was elected to the Senate in May 2019, said the government only provided allowances for police officials in drug war operations.

"Assuming that these are allowances, then Senator Bato needs to answer these questions: were there safeguards in place to ensure that these allowances were used for legitimate operational needs? How was the distribution of these funds monitored to prevent misuse or the incentivization of violence?” Abante said.

"As the former PNP chief, Senator Dela Rosa must further elaborate on the systems implemented by the PNP during his tenure to prevent abuses by officers who may have interpreted these cash payments as rewards for aggressive action,” Abante added.

Dela Rosa has already denied knowing anything about the supposed drug war reward system mentioned by Garma.

--VAL, GMA Integrated News