News Every Day | 13 December 2024, 05:32

FACT CHECK: House quad committee not abolished

Claim: The quad committee in the House of Representatives has been disbanded.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: As of writing, the video bearing the claim has garnered 78,213 views, 2,500 likes, and 325 comments.

The video’s title reads: “Quadcom ni Romualdez inabolish na?? BBM kinaladkad sa Korte Suprema! Awtoridad kinondena ni Acop!”

(Romualdez’s quad comm abolished? BBM dragged before the Supreme Court! Cong. Acop lambasts authorities!)

In the video, a narrator says: “Inanunsiyo na rin ang opisyal na pagbuwag sa quad comm na pinamumunuan ni Tambaloslos na sinasabing hindi naging epektibo sa pagtugon sa mga isyung ipinasa rito.”

(The official termination of the quad committee headed by Tambaloslos was announced because it was ineffective in addressing the issues raised in the committee.)

The narrator also claimed that evidence uncovered during the hearings led to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. being summoned by the Supreme Court.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez is referred to as “Tambaloslos,” a reference to a Visayan term used by Vice President Sara Duterte.

The facts: The House quad committee investigating illegal drugs, Philippine offshore gaming operations, and drug war killings under the previous Duterte administration has not been abolished. The most recent hearing of the mega panel was held on Thursday, December 12.

The video does not support its claims with any evidence, merely showing a clip of SAGIP party-list Representative Rodante Marcoleta.

Contrary to the claim, the Supreme Court has not summoned Marcos, who as a sitting president enjoys immunity from suit.

Rappler has previously debunked similar claims:

Mega panel: The quad committee comprises four separate House committees:

Dangerous drugs committee, headed by Surigao del Norte 2nd District Representative Ace Barbers
Human rights committee, headed by Manila 6th District Representative Bienvenido Abante
Public accounts committee, headed by Abang Lingkod Representative Caraps Paduano
Public order and safety committee, headed by Santa Rosa, Laguna Representative Dan Fernandez

Barbers chairs the quad committee, contrary to the misleading video’s claim that Romualdez heads the mega panel.

The quad committee conducted its first hearing last August 16. It is authorized to conduct a comprehensive probe into the possible links between illegal drugs, Philippine offshore gaming operations, extrajudicial killings, and other human rights violations during former president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.

Key revelations were made throughout the hearings, notable of which were retired police colonel Royina Garma’s confession before the committee last October 11, of the rewards system in Duterte’s drug war, also implicating former National Police Commission commissioner Edilberto Leonardo as point person and Senator Bong Go as the main source of funds for the operation.

On November 13, former president Duterte appeared before the committee and effectively admitted to the existence of the alleged police reward system during his term. He claimed however that the reward system was based on “crimes solved,” rather than the killings.

The quad committee has so far conducted 13 hearings. It is set to release a progress report on its findings before the House ends session for the holiday break on December 18. – Ramon Franco Verano/Rappler.com

Ramon Franco Verano is a graduate of Rappler’s volunteer program. He is a fourth year History student at the University of Santo Tomas. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.

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