House Quad Committee Co-Chairperson Rep. Robert Ace Barbers and Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa. ABS-CBN News/file

"Walang game plan.”

House Quad Committee Co-Chairperson Rep. Robert Ace Barbers made this assertion, following allegations from Senator Ronald Dela Rosa that the statements issued by resource persons in its hearings against certain Duterte administration officials were “scripted” and that House Speaker Martin Romualdez is behind these efforts.

"Since last year, nag-iinvestigate na kami dito sa mga issue na ito… Wala kaming pinaplanong political, nothing of that sort… Basta kami as far as we know, we will do our best to ferret out the truth,” Barbers said in an online interview on Friday.

House Quad Committee Co-Chairperson Rep. Dan Fernandez added that the House Speaker cannot dictate on the committees, and that he will not allow himself to be used for political agenda.

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Fernandez said bribing resource persons would be dangerous.

“I think it’s unfair kay Speaker. Ako mismo, hindi ako papayag na gamitin ako para sa isang political agenda. After all, I am not running for any higher position or anything sa national. Hindi naman ito makakaapekto sa amin,” he said. 

“300 plus kaming congressmen doon. They can never dictate on us, especially kung ang mga ebidensya ay lulutuin namin para lang to cater on certain personalities like the Speaker, mahirap ‘yun. What if yung kinakausap namin ay biglang magsalita sa hearing. That will put us in a precarious position. Personally, I don’t want that to happen to me. Ang resource persons, hindi mo yan makakapa. At hindi mo sila kayang diktahan… Kung babayaran mo ‘yan, what if bumaligtad yan?” Fernandez added. 

“Kung titingnan mo, ‘yung sa POGO, ang sinasabi naman namin doon ‘yung mga Chinese, sila ang may-ari nyan. Kaso ang nangyayari, biglang may mali-link na mga pulitiko sa mga sinasabi nilang mga testimony nila,” the lawmaker noted. 

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 Police Lt. Col. Jovie Espenido, who told the House Quad Committee of an alleged “quota” and “reward” system implemented during the anti-drug campaign of the previous administration, was not "recruited", according to Barbers. 

Asked about the personalities behind the implementation of the reward system, Espenido tagged then PNP Chief dela Rosa. Dela Rosa has denied the allegation.

“As far as I know, mayroon siyang kinausap tungkol dito sa ini-investigate na drug war at EJK. Apparently mayroong may alam. Noong nasabi na si PLTCOL Espenido ay may alam at may gustong sabihin, tiningnan namin. Kailangan nga magcomply ka muna sa requirements. Mayroon ka bang affidavit? Hanggang sa naka-comply ‘yun at binigyan naming siya ng chance to appear before the quad comm,” Barbers narrated.

Fernandez said even Cassandra Ong, who is being linked to a raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator in Porac, Pampanga, previously reached out to him, before she was cited in contempt for snubbing the House hearings.

“Siya nag-reach out.  Nabigla nga ako nang nag-text. Sabi ko ‘san kaya nakuha number ko… So I just decided na siguro isa sa mga kaibigan ko na kilala ‘yong kaibigan niya or something like that,” he said. 

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“I think takot siya talaga.  Tapos sabi niya, ‘Cong, paano niya ako matutulungan?’  So I still remember telling her na, ‘alam mo kung para ka matulungan, pumunta ka, magsalita ka, be truthful, sabihin mo lahat ng nalalaman mo and who knows, the whole government will help you,” Fernandez added.

 The House Quad Comm has a standing offer for Espenido and Ong to disclose in an executive session the information they hesitate to disclose in the public hearings. Based on the value of the information they will provide, the quad comm may consider recommending immunity from prosecution.

 It also gave assurances that the testimonies in the hearing will be validated and weighed. 

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The House Quad Committee also received a letter from Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte, who was implicated by former Customs Intelligence Office Jimmy Guban to an illegal drug smuggling incident in 2018.

Rep. Duterte had denied Guban’s allegations.

“There was something he was trying to question… but there are certain portions that he was questioning and citing some provisions,” Fernandez said.

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“Mayroon lang siyang mga request sa quad comm na titingnan naming kung pwede namin mapagbigyan,” Barbers added.

The House Quad Comm plans to deliberate and decide on the contents of Duterte’s letter when it resumes its hearing on Tuesday.

The joint panel said it is open should the names mentioned by resource persons intend to give their side.