Quad Committee chairpersons Santa Rosa City Representative Dan Fernandez and Manila Representative Benny Abante, addressed the allegations and statements that came out in the Senate hearing regarding the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during the Duterte administration.
Fernandez firmly denied the allegations of coercion or harassment, which were based on the sworn statement of Police Col. Hector Grijaldo during the Senate hearing.
The veteran legislator said such actions “never happened” and clarified that the meeting in question was initiated upon the request of retired Col. Royina Garma.
“Unang-una, talagang there was an incident na talagang pinatawag namin siya pero not on our own volition. Because it was Col. Garma as what I am saying sa mga interviews sa akin that asked na kausapin si Col. Grijaldo,” the seasoned lawmaker clarified.
He added that the meeting is part of the vetting process and it included other individuals such as Abante and two of Garma’s lawyers to ensure transparency.
“Kasi vetting process pa lamang ‘yun. Alam mo sa Kongreso, kinakausap muna namin and then kapag nalaman namin na pwede nating i-validate yung sinasabi niya, then the lawyers will come out,” Fernandez said.
He also explained the unexpected presence of Grijaldo, and that the Quad Comm did not formally invite him as a resource person regarding EJKs before Garma testified.
“Noong bago mag-testify si Col. Garma, he was there. He was there and he wasn’t even invited. Nagulat na lamang ako nandun siya at hindi ko siya kilala,” Fernandez stressed.
He expressed hope that Grijaldo gains clarity, emphasizing that he was only involved in a peripheral issue related to Gen. Wesley Barayuga’s case and not the main investigation.
“Nagugulat kami na nakikisawsaw siya sa isang bagay na hindi naman siya involved.”
“Nagugulat kami na nakikisawsaw siya sa isang bagay na hindi naman siya involved,” Fernandez noted.
He suggested that the motive behind the allegations is a demolition job, attack against him and Abante and particularly to discredit the whole Quad Committee and its proceedings.
Fernandez also stated that the accusations were unfair to the Quad Comm members, reiterating that the meeting was a result of Garma’s request.
He also addressed the statements from former President Duterte accusing him of subornation of perjury and threatening legal action. Fernandez reiterated the integrity of the quad comm, their commitment to transparency and their readiness to confront any legal challenges.
“If this is the way that we need to act on certain things that happened, then we will confront the issue.”
“And if this is the way that we need to act on certain things that happened, then we will confront the issue,” he stressed.
Abante also addressed the implications of Duterte’s statements, emphasizing the need for justice regarding EJKs. The veteran legislator referenced Republic Act 9851 or the “Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity,” highlighting that the Quad Comm is not initiating lawsuits, but aims to enact a law against EJKs and ensure accountability.
“Nais lang namin ang katotohanan mailabas dito para makapagpagawa kami ng mga batas na hindi na maaaring mangyari pa ang extrajudicial killings. Nag-file na nga kami ng unang-unang bill tungkol dyan na making extrajudicial killings a heinous crime,” the seasoned lawmaker said.
Fernandez also noted that local courts would take jurisdiction over such matters and urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to enforce the law effectively, which encompasses various international conventions, including those related to genocide and children’s rights.
Abante and Fernandez, along with Surigao del Sur Representative Robert Barbers and Abang Lingkod Partylist Representative Joseph Stephen Paduano, are the chairpersons of the quad committee.
This quad committee, comprising the Committees on Human Rights, Public Order and Safety, Dangerous Drugs and Public Accounts respectively, is conducting joint investigations into connections and possible crimes related to illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), illegal drugs, EJKs and human rights violations.
