Confronting criminality and corruption with courage and resolve

• Quad panel wants President Duterte, Senators Dela Rosa and Bong Go, former PNP chiefs Albayalde and Sinas, and Bong Go clerk Espino charged for crimes against humanity or genocide
  
• Quad also wants Duterte and police Colonels Royina Garma and Edilberto Leonardo charged for the 2016 murder of three Chinese prisoners inside a Davao prison.
  
• Quad wants police Colonels Garma, Leonardo, and Santi Mendoza charged for the murder of police General Wesley Barayuga in Mandaluyong on July 20, 2020.
  
• Quad wants former Tarlac mayor Alice Leal Guo charged for human trafficking, illegal drugs, and corruption.

By Rep. Robert Ace Barbers
Chair, House Committee on Dangerous Drugs

(Sponsorship speech, Dec.18, 2024 House session)

This report is not merely an account of our work, Mr. Speaker. 

It is a solemn commitment to uncovering the truth, upholding justice, and crafting meaningful legislative solutions to address the scourges of illegal drug proliferation, unlawful land acquisition by foreigners, crimes linked to Philippine offshore gaming operators or POGOs, and extrajudicial killings.

The formation of the Quad Committee was inevitable. The House of Representatives, under the leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez, recognized the complexities of these issues required a united and comprehensive approach. 

Thus, through House Resolution No. 1880, the Quad Committee was brought to life. What began as a separate investigation by individual committees soon uncovered a web of interconnections, a Pandora’s box of crimes and abuses that tested the very foundations of our institutions. 

P3.9 billion drug bust

One of the most alarming discoveries stemmed from a routine investigation into the P3.9 billion drug bust in San Jose, Malino, Mexico, Pampanga.

The probe unearthed the illicit operations of Empire 999, a company owned by foreign nationals masquerading as Filipino citizens. This led to the revelations of massive illegal land acquisitions involving hundreds of hectares of agricultural lands, in direct violation of our Constitution. 

It further exposed suspicious ties between local government officials and foreign syndicates pointing to corruption and systemic exploitation.

POGOs and organized crime

Mr. Speaker, our inquiry delved deeper into the operations of these entities and uncovered an even more sinister reality, their connections to the illegal drug trade and organized crime activities facilitated by POGOs.

What was initially presented as a revenue-generating industry has instead become a breeding ground for illegal activities such as human trafficking, money laundering, investment scams, cyber crimes, and even murder. 

Sa ating investigation, Mr. Speaker, ay nakita natin ang modus operandi na mga POGOs ay gumamit ng mga Pilipinong dummies bilang mga nominal na may-ari upang magtatag ng mga korporasyon, na nagpapahintulot sa mga dayuhan na iwasan ang mga batas na naglilimita sa pagmamay-ari at operasyon sa mga industriya tulad ng gaming at real estate.

Ang mga korporasyong ito ay may mga magkakaugnay na layers upang itago ang tunay na pinagmulan ng pondo at pagkakakilanlan ng mga operators na nagpapahirap sa mga otoridad na masubaybayan ang mga iligal na mga aktibidad. 

POGOs and money laundering

Mr. Speaker, ang mga POGOs na ito ay naghuhugas ng pera mula sa mga krimen tulad ng human trafficking, iligal na pagsusugal, bentahan ng droga at cyber crimes sa pamamagitan ng pagpapadaan ng pondo sa mga bank account, pagbili ng ari-arian at iba pang mga instrumentong pinansyal na pinapalabas ng lehitimong operasyon ng kanilang mga negosyo. 

Ang ganitong layering ay hindi lamang nagtatago sa iligal na pinagmulan ng pondo kundi pinapaliit din ang binabayarang buwis at pinoprotektahan ang mga operator mula sa pagkakadiskubre.

Mr. Speaker, karaniwang minamadali ang mga scheme na ito ng nga tiwaling opisyal at empleyado ng ating gobyerno.

Ang ating mga regulatory agencies at mga institusyong pinansyal kapalit ng suhol na naglalagay sa peligro ng sistema ng batas at pananalapi sa ating bansa. 

But perhaps the most chilling revelations Mr. Speaker pertains to the extrajudicial killings that have scarred our nation’s history. The investigations brought to life a harrowing narrative of abuse of power and institutional impunity during the Duterte administration.

Legislative proposals

Mr. Speaker, this is not merely a report of the past wrongdoings, but a call to action. The Quad Committee has responded by filing concrete legislative measures aimed at addressing the gaps in our legal framework. 

1. House Bill 10986, classifies and penalizes extrajudicial killings as heinous crimes while providing reparations for its victims.
   
2. House Bill 10987, prohibits all forms of offshore gaming operations in the country with severe penalties for violations. 
   
3. House Bill 11043, allows civil forfeiture of unlawfully acquired real estate properties by foreign nationals. 
   
4. House Bill 11117, provides for the administrative cancellation of birth certificates fraudulently obtained by foreign nationals.

Significant actions

In addition to these proposed bills, Mr. Speaker, our inquiries have already yielded significant actions. 

1. The Joint Committee inquiry prompted authorities to reopen investigations into the murders of Police General Wesley Barayuga, former Albuera Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa, and three Chinese nationals killed inside the Davao prison in penal farm. 
   
2. The Certificate of Registration of Incorporation of Empire 999 Realty Corporation was revoked by the SEC.
   
3. The Philippine passports of Mr. Cai Qimeng, also known as Mr. Willie Ong, and Yang Jia Zheng, also known as Aedi Tai Yang, were canceled by the concerned government agencies.
   
4. The findings of the Joint Committee led to the filing of legal cases against Guo Hua Ping, also known as Alice Leal Go, including charges of human trafficking and drug and corruption. 
   
5. The chairperson of the PAOCC directed the Anti-Money Laundering Council to file for court-issued freeze orders or provisional asset preservation orders against assets linked to unlawful activities. 

These include the following corporations: Lucky South Limited Corporation, Whirlwind Corporation, Biancham Holdings and Trading Inc., Empire 999 Realty Corporation, Sunflare Industrial Supply Corporation, Yatai Industrial Park Inc., Empire 999 Industrial Realty and Development Corporation.

These actions underscore the progress achieved through our investigations in addressing systemic crimes and abuses.

Amendments to laws

We have also recommended, Mr. Speaker, amendments to relevant laws, including the Anti-Money Laundering Act, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, the Civil Registry Law, the Anti-Dummy Law, the Bank Secrecy Law, the New Philippine Passport Act, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, the Cybercrime Prevention Act, the Tariff and Customs Code, the Revised Corporation Code, and the Local Government Code, among others.

Mr. Speaker, in total, we have recommended at least 30 proposed legislations and these measures aim to strengthen our legal frameworks and ensure that such abuses and misdeeds are prevented in the future. 

To be charged

The Quadcom likewise recommends the filing of appropriate charges against the following:

1. Personalities linked to the illegal drug trade, particularly those implicated in the seizure of 360 kilograms of shabu in Mexico Pampanga, Cai Qimeng, also known as Willie Ong, Yang Xiaojiang, also known as Aedi Tai Yang, Mayor Teddy Tumang, and all the incorporators of Empire 999. 
   
2. Perpetrators of crimes against humanity under Section 6 of Republic Act 9851 or “The Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity”: Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, former PNP Chief Oscar David Albayalde, former PNP Chief Debold Sinas, Police Colonel Royina Garma, Police Colonel Edilberto Leonardo, and Irmina “Muking” Espino.
   
3. The co-conspirators in the murder of Chu Kin Tung, Li Lang Yang, and Wong Meng Pin, the three Chinese nationals killed inside the Davao Penal Prison and Penal Farm on August 13, 2016: Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Police Colonel Royina Garma, Police Colonel Edilberto Leonardo, SPO4 Arthur Narsolis, and Superintendent Gerardo Padilla. 
   
4. Individuals involved in the murder of General Wesley Barayuga: Police Colonel Royina Garma, Police Colonel Edilberto Leonardo, Police Lieutenant Colonel Santi Mendoza, former PNP Officer Nelson Mariano, PSMS Jeremy Tox Causapin, and Juan Alias Loloy.

Moreover, Mr. Speaker, further investigations should be conducted against, but not limited to, the following individuals. 

1. Personalities implicated in the illegal drug trade in relation to the revelations provided by resource persons Jimmy Guban and Mark Taguba, Representative Paolo Duterte, Councilor Nilo Abellera Jr., Mr. Paul Gutierrez, Mr. Benny Antiporda, Mr. Jojo Bacud, a certain Tita Nani, and Mr. Allen Capuyan. 
   
2. Personalities identified to be involved in the illegal drug trade during the course of the legislative hearings, Hongming Yang, also known as Michael Yang, Wei Xiong Lin, also known as Allan Lim, Charlie Tan, and Mr. Sammy Uy.
   
3. Personalities involved in POGO-related illegal activities, Attorney Herminio Harry Roque Jr., Katherine Cassandra Li Ong, Guo Hua Ping, also known as Alice Leal Guo, Yang Jian Xin, also known as Tony Yang, and Hong Jiang Yang, the younger brother of Tony Yang and Michael Yang. 

Mr. Speaker, our work is far from over. The Quad Committee’s progress thus far is a testament to what we can achieve when we confront corruption and criminality with courage and resolve.

However, it also underscores the magnitude of the challenges we face. This is a defining moment for this Congress, Mr. Speaker. It is an opportunity to uphold the rule of law, protect our nation’s sovereignty, and deliver justice to those who have been wronged.

I urge my fellow legislators to give this report the attention it deserves and to support the proposed measures that will ensure these injustices are never repeated. Together, let us take the necessary steps to restore faith in our institutions and reaffirm our commitment to the Filipino people. 

Maraming maraming salamat and Merry Christmas, Mr. Speaker.