The House of Representatives Quad Committee recommended the filing of crimes against humanity charges against former President Rodrigo Duterte, along with Senators Christopher Lawrence Go and Ronald dela Rosa.
This is in connection with the alleged extrajudicial killings of more than 30,000 victims during the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
Meanwhile, five Philippine National Police (PNP) officers were also recommended to be filed with charges under Republic Act 9851 or the “Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and other Crimes against Humanity.”
These were former police chiefs Oscar David Albayalde and Debold Sinas; police colonels Royina Garma and Edilberto Leonardo; and Palace aide Herminia “Muking” Espino.
The recommendation was contained in a 43-page Quad Comm progress report, compiled from 13 hearings from August 16 to December 12 this year.
The report outlined the facts established, evidence gathered, actions taken, and recommendations for remedial legislations concerning EJKs, illegal drugs, illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), and anomalous transactions involving local government units in various unlawful activities.
Former Sen. Leila De Lima, who appeared as a resource person in several Quad Comm hearings, said Republic Act 9851 holds not just the direct perpetrators responsible, but also those in leadership positions who order and induce such crimes.
During the 9th Quad Comm hearing, De Lima explained that the said law, enacted two years before the Philippines became a signatory to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), covers the systematic killings under Duterte’s drug war.
