By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Leaders of the House of Representatives responded sharply on Sunday, August 11, 2024, to Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa’s claims that some lawmakers are conspiring to implicate him and former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) currently under investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Dela Rosa’s remarks followed the formation of Quad Committees in the House to probe connections between the Duterte administration’s war on drugs and illegal activities linked to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
House Deputy Speaker Rep. David Suarez criticized Dela Rosa’s statements as “unnecessary, unparliamentary, and unbecoming of a public servant.”
“The House leadership has always acted with the utmost integrity, and it is highly irresponsible to suggest that they are behind a witch hunt against Senator Dela Rosa or former President Duterte,” Suarez emphasized in a statement.
Deputy Majority Leader Rep. Jude Acidre also expressed disappointment with Dela Rosa’s remarks.
Last week, the House formed the Quad Committee, comprising four congressional panels, to investigate potential links between POGOs and illegal drug activities, extrajudicial killings related to drugs, and other crimes.
The committees involved are the Committee on Dangerous Drugs, chaired by Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers; the Committee on Human Rights, chaired by Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante; the Committee on Public Order and Safety, chaired by Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez; and the Committee on Public Accounts, chaired by Abang Lingkod party-list Rep. Stephen Paduano.
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