MANILA, Philippines — As millions of Filipinos observed All Souls’ Day yesterday, leaders of the quad committee of the House of Representatives renewed their commitment to giving justice to victims of the bloody war on drugs during the Duterte administration.
“As we remember our departed loved ones on All Souls’ Day, we are reminded of the countless Filipino families who grieved the loss of loved ones taken too soon. Our commitment to justice is unwavering,” said Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez, quad comm co-chairman and chairman of the House committee on public order and safety.
“Our task is to ensure that these stories are neither silenced nor forgotten,” Fernandez added.
The quad comm, composed of the committees on dangerous drugs, public order and safety, human rights and public accounts, is investigating the links of extrajudicial killings and drugs with illegal activities at Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hubs during the Duterte administration.
Official government data cite over 6,000 deaths resulting from police operations during the Duterte administration’s campaign against illegal drugs between 2016 and 2021.
Human rights organizations and advocates estimate the number of deaths during the same period at 27,000 to 30,000 people.
Former police officials led by Col. Royina Garma earlier testified before the quad comm that policemen involved in high-profile drug war killings allegedly often received monetary rewards.
Garma alleged that this reward structure mirrored practices linked to the Davao Death Squad (DDS) organized by Duterte when he was Davao City mayor.
Former senator Leila de Lima, who was jailed for seven years after being accused and charged by the Duterte administration for alleged involvement in illegal drugs, said that the reward system established in Davao City expanded nationwide under Duterte’s presidency.
Duterte vehemently denied there was a reward system in his drug war.
De Lima, a known advocate for accountability and a critic of the anti-drug campaign, said that this expansion led to an increase in human rights violations and a normalization of extrajudicial killings across the country. She was eventually acquitted on all the charges filed against her by the Duterte administration.
“The findings so far illustrate a deeply troubling trend where violence was incentivized, and accountability was ignored,” Fernandez said.
“The evidence underscores the urgent need for justice, not only for the victims but for the integrity of our legal and law enforcement systems,” he added.
Fernandez said the quad comm remains resolute in its quest for justice for the victims of EJKs.
“The road to justice may be challenging, but the quad comm remains resolute in its duty. Our work is far from over, and we will not rest until we have brought the truth to light,” Fernandez said.
“This is about more than just accountability – it is about restoring faith in our institutions and ensuring that no Filipino, regardless of their social or economic status, is ever denied justice,” he added.