Barbers denies quad comm partial findings politically motivated | ABS-CBN
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Barbers denies quad comm partial findings politically motivated
Former President Rodrigo Duterte on November 13, 2024 during the Quad-Comm hearing on the extrajudicial killings, addressing alleged human rights violations from his administration’s war on drugs. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News
Former President Rodrigo Duterte on November 13, 2024 during the Quad-Comm hearing on the extrajudicial killings, addressing alleged human rights violations from his administration’s war on drugs. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News MANILA — The partial findings and recommendations of the House Quad Committee are not politically motivated, its chairperson Rep. Robert Ace Barbers asserted on Friday.
MANILA — The partial findings and recommendations of the House Quad Committee are not politically motivated, its chairperson Rep. Robert Ace Barbers asserted on Friday.
He issued the statement in response to the claims of some officials mentioned in the report that the recommendations adopted by the House of Representatives on Wednesday were based on “hearsay”, “politically motivated”, and allegedly target the Duterte family and their allies.
He issued the statement in response to the claims of some officials mentioned in the report that the recommendations adopted by the House of Representatives on Wednesday were based on “hearsay”, “politically motivated”, and allegedly target the Duterte family and their allies.
“There's no politically motivated information that we shared. Nakita ng publiko ano ‘yung mga lumalabas sa mga bibig ng mga testigo. Nakita ng publiko ano ‘yung nangyayari sa hearing… Hindi naman po galing sa bibig ng miyembro ng quad ‘yan… We only follow where the evidence leads us. Testimonial and documentary evidence is the basis of our committee report,” Barbers said.
“There's no politically motivated information that we shared. Nakita ng publiko ano ‘yung mga lumalabas sa mga bibig ng mga testigo. Nakita ng publiko ano ‘yung nangyayari sa hearing… Hindi naman po galing sa bibig ng miyembro ng quad ‘yan… We only follow where the evidence leads us. Testimonial and documentary evidence is the basis of our committee report,” Barbers said.
“Sa punto na dapat hindi hearsay at credible ang witnesses, I agree. We all agree in the Quad that that should be the case. That is why we recommend for further investigation. We’re not saying a person is guilty right away. Kasi nga lumabas lang ito sa committee hearing, and we cannot not write this in the committee report and ignore the information. That's why we said we are recommending further investigation. Hindi naman kami korte, so sa amin ay recommendatory,” he added.
“Sa punto na dapat hindi hearsay at credible ang witnesses, I agree. We all agree in the Quad that that should be the case. That is why we recommend for further investigation. We’re not saying a person is guilty right away. Kasi nga lumabas lang ito sa committee hearing, and we cannot not write this in the committee report and ignore the information. That's why we said we are recommending further investigation. Hindi naman kami korte, so sa amin ay recommendatory,” he added.
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The quad comm recommended on Wednesday the filing of charges against former President Rodrigo Duterte, his allies Senator Ronald dela Rosa and Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, and others for alleged crimes against humanity over the previous administration’s drug war.
The quad comm recommended on Wednesday the filing of charges against former President Rodrigo Duterte, his allies Senator Ronald dela Rosa and Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, and others for alleged crimes against humanity over the previous administration’s drug war.
Go and Dela Rosa said they were leaving the matter to the Philippine courts should the charges be filed against them, but they said the quad comm’s recommendations were baseless and sought to “demolish” Duterte and his allies.
Go and Dela Rosa said they were leaving the matter to the Philippine courts should the charges be filed against them, but they said the quad comm’s recommendations were baseless and sought to “demolish” Duterte and his allies.
But for Akabyan party-list Rep. Percival Cendaña, the recommendation was “long overdue.”
But for Akabyan party-list Rep. Percival Cendaña, the recommendation was “long overdue.”
“Isa itong mahalagang hakbang tungkol sa matagal nang panawagan nina Kian delos Santos, ‘yung kanilang pamilya, at ‘yung libu-libong naging biktima ng madugong drug war ni dating Pangulong Duterte… This is serving ‘yung call para sa katarungan ng ating mga kababayan na nakaranas ng pang-aabuso, ng pagpatay noong panahon ng tokhang sa ilalim ni dating Pangulong Duterte,” he said.
“Isa itong mahalagang hakbang tungkol sa matagal nang panawagan nina Kian delos Santos, ‘yung kanilang pamilya, at ‘yung libu-libong naging biktima ng madugong drug war ni dating Pangulong Duterte… This is serving ‘yung call para sa katarungan ng ating mga kababayan na nakaranas ng pang-aabuso, ng pagpatay noong panahon ng tokhang sa ilalim ni dating Pangulong Duterte,” he said.
Cendaña added that the quad comm’s partial findings and recommendations reinforce the International Criminal Court proceedings on the alleged killings in Duterte’s drug war before the. But he noted that it was not a replacement for the ICC investigation.
Cendaña added that the quad comm’s partial findings and recommendations reinforce the International Criminal Court proceedings on the alleged killings in Duterte’s drug war before the. But he noted that it was not a replacement for the ICC investigation.
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“Nare-reinforce niya ‘yung nangyayaring proseso ngayon sa International Criminal Court, because we are now calling attention to these atrocities… With the progress report of the quad comm, we are saying that indeed, these abuses happened, and these abuses should be prosecuted,” the Akbayan lawmaker said.
“Nare-reinforce niya ‘yung nangyayaring proseso ngayon sa International Criminal Court, because we are now calling attention to these atrocities… With the progress report of the quad comm, we are saying that indeed, these abuses happened, and these abuses should be prosecuted,” the Akbayan lawmaker said.
“Kami sa Akbayan, nakikita namin ito as complementary to the ICC process… Maliit ‘yung window na mayroon tayo. Sa loob ng ilang taon lamang, maaaring magbago ulit ‘yung political dynamics sa ating bansa, at maaaring ‘yung political situation na ‘yun would lead to another administration na maging pabor ulit doon sa nakaraang administrasyon. So talagang ‘yung pinaka-sustainable, pinaka-robust na mechanism for holding the Dutertes accountable at ‘yung kanyang mga kasabwat ay ‘yung International Criminal Court,” Cendaña added.
“Kami sa Akbayan, nakikita namin ito as complementary to the ICC process… Maliit ‘yung window na mayroon tayo. Sa loob ng ilang taon lamang, maaaring magbago ulit ‘yung political dynamics sa ating bansa, at maaaring ‘yung political situation na ‘yun would lead to another administration na maging pabor ulit doon sa nakaraang administrasyon. So talagang ‘yung pinaka-sustainable, pinaka-robust na mechanism for holding the Dutertes accountable at ‘yung kanyang mga kasabwat ay ‘yung International Criminal Court,” Cendaña added.
Barbers added, “‘Yung aming investigation ay base nga dito sa aming evidence na nakalap ng Quad Committee. I am not certain about how the ICC did theirs.”
Barbers added, “‘Yung aming investigation ay base nga dito sa aming evidence na nakalap ng Quad Committee. I am not certain about how the ICC did theirs.”
He said if the 30 remedial measures proposed by the quad comm are not enacted within the 19th Congress, they could be refiled in the 20th Congress.
He said if the 30 remedial measures proposed by the quad comm are not enacted within the 19th Congress, they could be refiled in the 20th Congress.
The quad comm hearings are expected to continue in January.
The quad comm hearings are expected to continue in January.
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Police said the campaign left more than 6,000 people dead, but rights groups estimate tens of thousands of mostly poor men were killed by officers and vigilantes, often without proof they were linked to drugs.
Police said the campaign left more than 6,000 people dead, but rights groups estimate tens of thousands of mostly poor men were killed by officers and vigilantes, often without proof they were linked to drugs.
During the anti-drug campaign he launched shortly after taking office in 2016, Duterte ordered police to shoot dead suspects if officers believed their lives were in danger.
During the anti-drug campaign he launched shortly after taking office in 2016, Duterte ordered police to shoot dead suspects if officers believed their lives were in danger.
"Do not question my policies because I offer no apologies, no excuses. I did what I had to do, and whether or not you believe it or not, I did it for my country," Duterte, 79, said in a Senate hearing in October.
"Do not question my policies because I offer no apologies, no excuses. I did what I had to do, and whether or not you believe it or not, I did it for my country," Duterte, 79, said in a Senate hearing in October.
"I hate drugs, make no mistake about it."
"I hate drugs, make no mistake about it."
The drug war has continued under Duterte's successor, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., though he has pushed for more emphasis on prevention and rehabilitation.
The drug war has continued under Duterte's successor, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., though he has pushed for more emphasis on prevention and rehabilitation.
-- With a report from Agence France-Presse
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