The Quad Comm filed bills penalizing extrajudicial killings, banning offshore gaming, allowing property forfeiture, canceling fraudulent birth certificates, and punishing espionage.
The House Quad Committee (Quad Comm) has filed a series of legislative measures aimed at addressing the legal weaknesses that allowed for criminal activities linked to Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) and extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during the controversial anti-drug campaign of former President Rodrigo Duterte's administration.
Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers, the lead chair of Quadcom, announced the filing of five key bills designed to close loopholes in the nation's laws. These gaps, he explained, had been exploited by both local and international crime syndicates to facilitate illicit activities, including drug trafficking, money laundering, and the abuse of POGOs.
In a statement cited by the PNA, Barbers emphasized that criminals had carefully studied the vulnerabilities in the legal system. “Sa isang simpleng pag-analisa, pinag-aralang maigi ng mga local at foreign crime syndicates ang mga kahinaan at butas ng ating mga batas at ginamit nila ito upang maisakatuparan ang kanilang mga illegal na gawain sa ating bansa (In a simple analysis, local and foreign crime syndicates carefully examined the weaknesses and loopholes in our laws and used them to carry out their illegal activities in our country)," he said.
He added: “Out of the series of hearings conducted, lawmakers and the public were informed and enlightened on how criminals and unscrupulous individuals or groups managed to use the flaws, loopholes and weaknesses on some of our existing laws, in the furtherance of their criminal activities.”
One of the most concerning revelations of the Quad Comm was the connection between POGOs and organized crime, particularly through real estate transactions and the exploitation of Filipino and Chinese "dummies" to conceal ownership of illicit operations. The committee also uncovered disturbing evidence regarding extrajudicial killings, which were reportedly encouraged and enabled by a culture of impunity within law enforcement during the previous administration.
The Quadcom investigation into extrajudicial killings revealed what Barbers called a culture of impunity and power abuse under the Duterte administration.
During the November 13, 2024 hearing, Duterte acknowledged crucial aspects of his administration's anti-drug campaign, including the role of the Davao Death Squad and a reward system for police involved in EJKs, which he said was modeled after practices in Davao.
Duterte also took “full legal responsibility” for the violent war on drugs that marked his presidency.
Key Bills Addressing Legal Gaps
To tackle the issues raised by their investigations, Quadcom has filed five bills aimed at strengthening the nation’s legal framework and curbing criminal activity:
House Bill No. 10986: This bill seeks to classify extrajudicial killings as a heinous crime, carrying heavy penalties for those involved, and providing reparations for the victims' families. The proposal comes after the committee’s investigation into the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign, which included evidence of police involvement in extrajudicial executions.
House Bill No. 10987: This bill aims to ban all forms of offshore gaming operations in the Philippines. It introduces severe penalties for violations, seeking to eliminate the misuse of POGOs by criminal elements involved in money laundering, human trafficking, and other illegal activities.
House Bill No. 11043: This bill would allow the government to seize real estate properties unlawfully acquired by foreign nationals involved in illegal activities. It targets operations like Empire 999, a real estate company allegedly used by POGOs to launder money and engage in criminal enterprises.
House Bill No. 11117: This measure proposes the administrative cancellation of birth certificates that were fraudulently obtained by foreign nationals. This bill aims to close the loophole that allowed foreign criminals to manipulate the legal system and disguise their identities.
House Bill No. 10998: This bill criminalizes conspiracy and proposals to commit espionage, seeking to address concerns about foreign interference in national security and the exploitation of the country’s legal system by foreign entities.
In addition to these legislative measures, Barbers highlighted that the Quad Comm had recommended over 30 amendments to existing laws in an effort to strengthen them and prevent similar abuses in the future. These proposed changes are designed to make it more difficult for criminals to exploit legal loopholes and to hold accountable those involved in such activities.
Investigative Efforts
The investigative process that led to the filing of these bills was exhaustive. The Quad Comm held multiple hearings, called in expert resource persons, and reviewed critical documents. Barbers pointed out that while the committee’s work was thorough and labor-intensive, it was also met with significant criticism from detractors, particularly those with vested interests in the industries under scrutiny.
“Napakadali lang para sa mga kritiko, lalo na iyung mga bayaran, na sirain o gibain ang ngalan at nagawa ng Quad Comm (It’s easy for critics, especially those who are paid, to tarnish or undermine the work of Quad Comm)," Barbers remarked, emphasizing that the committee had remained committed to its mission despite the challenges.
A key part of the investigation focused on POGOs and their ties to organized crime. Barbers specifically pointed to the case of Empire 999, a real estate firm operated by Chinese nationals who posed as Filipino citizens to conceal their activities. The firm was found to be deeply connected to illegal drugs, money laundering, and other criminal enterprises facilitated by the POGOs operating in the country.
“Sa ating initial na imbestigasyon dito sa Empire 999, nakita natin na ang modus operandi ng mga POGO ay gumamit ng Pinoy at Tsinoy na dummies bilang nominal owners (In our initial investigation into Empire 999, we discovered that POGOs use Filipino and Chinese dummies as nominal owners),” Barbers explained. This practice, he noted, allowed the operators to launder money and engage in illicit activities while remaining shielded from legal scrutiny.
Read related article: House Quad Comm Files Bills to Enforce POGO Ban, Penalize EJKs
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