RPPe House leaders call for joint, comprehensive probe of POGOs, illegal drugs and Duterte’s bloody anti-drug war

Leaders of the House of Representatives are pushing for the formation of a four-committee panel that would comprehensively look into Philippine offshore gambling operations (POGOs) and crimes associated with it, illegal drugs and the Duterte administration’s bloody anti-drug war.

The move was initiated on Monday by Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr., who, in a privilege speech, called for combining separate ongoing inquiries by three committees into POGOs, illegal drugs and human rights violations and extra-judicial killings (EJKs) that happened in the course of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign.

Two other House members, Representatives Joel Chua of Manila and Patrick Michael Vargas of Quezon City, filed on Monday Resolution No. 1843 proposing a fusion of the inquiries by the three committees - dangerous drug, public order and safety, and human rights.

A fourth member, Gerville Luistro of Batangas, suggested during Monday’s plenary session that the committee on public accounts, of which she is a member, be included in the proposed multi-committee investigating panel.

Gonzales’ privilege speech, Resolution No. 1843 and Luistro’s suggestion have all been referred to the rules committee chaired by Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe.

In his remarks, Gonzales said the nation “is currently grappling with complex issues involving public order, the proliferation of dangerous drugs, and human rights violations.” 

“We must address these issues in a coordinated and timely manner to ensure justice and the rule of law,” he said.

He noted that the committee on games and amusement, together with the committee on public order and safety, is illegal POGOs and criminal activities associated with them; while the committee on dangerous drugs has an ongoing inquiry into the seizure of P3.6-billion worth of illegal drugs in Mexico town in Pampanga in September 2023.

The inquiry into the drug confiscation has been prompted by two resolutions filed by Gonzales and Zambales Rep. Jefferson Khonghun. The shipment entered the country through the Subic Freeport.

A third panel, the committee on human rights, has started a probe into EJKs and human rights violations linked to Duterte’s anti-drug war.

A privilege speech by Alliance of Concerned Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro and Resolution No. 14 filed by Kabataan Rep. Raoul Danniel Manuel prompted the human rights panel’s probe.

“These individual inquiries by the three committees have been persistent and yet exhaustive. Still, there are issues that are interwoven entailing scrutiny into intricate details,” Gonzales said in his privilege speech.

He said the separate investigations “have shown an overlap or commonalities on individuals or resource persons that may be invited in the hearings.”

He stressed the need for a “unified and collaborative approach” in looking into the “interconnected problems and issues” that surfaced. 

“The complex yet interrelated nature of the issues surrounding public order, dangerous drugs, and human rights violations demonstrates the unique benefits of a collaborative approach that only a joint investigation can provide. A joint investigation will enable us to conduct a more inclusive and thorough examination of these interlocking issues,” the Pampanga lawmaker said.

“It will allow us to invite resource persons who can provide valuable insights across multiple areas of concern. This coordinated effort will ensure that our findings are comprehensive and that our legislative recommendations are practical and encompassing,” he said.

In their resolution, Chua and Vargas raised the same concerns as those of Gonzales.

Chua and Vargas said in the course of separate inquiries, one committee cannot tackle issues it fears may encroach on the jurisdiction of another committee.

They said the “interwoven and intricate issues” belong looked into by the concerned House committees warrant a joint investigation.

Barbers, who chairs the committee on dangerous drugs, supported the proposed consolidation of ongoing inquiries.

He said he suspected that despite the closure of illegal POGOs in Bamban, Tarlac and Porac, Pampanga, and the 2023 seizure of a huge shabu shipment in Mexico town, there remains a secret criminal syndicate orchestrating illegal activities that the authorities claimed they have stopped.

“So itong mga committees na ito, kasi napakalaki we believed meron criminal organization na kumikilos dito sa atin. That is why it is important for the House to create several committees…Bakit? Kasi nga yung criminal organization na, napakalaki ay involved po sa lahat na sinasabi natin that is why we want to dig deeper into this,” he said.

Several Chinese nationals are suspected to be behind illegal POGOs and the drug shipment seized in Mexico town, to which former Duterte adviser Michael Yang has been linked.

None of the Chinese suspects, including Yang, has appeared before the House, which has ordered their arrest. They are believed to have fled to their homeland.