First Party Chairman Neri Colmenares emphasized that it is necessary for the Congress to investigate the alleged extrajudicial killings (EJK) during the anti-drug campaign led by former President Rodrigo Duterte. The former congressman stated that despite reports that the International Criminal Court (ICC) might soon issue an arrest warrant, the House of Representatives must continue its investigation into Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO).
Colmenares stressed that such investigations, especially those conducted by multiple House committees, are crucial for strengthening the charges against those accused of orchestrating EJKs.
In a report published in the Inquirer, Colmenares said: "The investigations by Congress and the bicameral committees on the EJKs in POGOs are shocking, as these are investigations into the masterminds and perpetrators of EJKs."
He further emphasized that seeking justice for EJK victims should not solely rely on international mechanisms. Colmenares stated: "Seeking justice for EJK victims should not solely rely on international mechanisms. Our own legislative bodies have the responsibility to uncover the truth and hold those responsible for these heinous acts accountable."
He also urged legislators to prioritize these investigations and ensure that they are conducted without interference. He added: "We call on legislators to prioritize these investigations and ensure they are conducted without interference or delay."
The House of Representatives has tasked multiple committees to investigate the potential links between illegal activities, illegal drug trades, and alleged human rights violations related to the drug war within the centers of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO). The first round of discussions on these issues is scheduled to take place in an off-site hearing in Bacolor, Pampanga.
Chairman of the House Dangerous Drugs Committee and Representative of the Second District of Northern Surigao, Robert E.S. Barbers explained that the hearing is held in Pampanga because many of the issues originated from the province. Barbers' panel previously investigated a controlled delivery operation where illegal drugs were tracked from Subic Port to a warehouse in Pampanga owned by Empire 999 Realty Corporation, controlled by someone named Willie Ong, whom Barbers and other panel members suspect to be a Chinese citizen illegally acquiring land in Pampanga.
Meanwhile, the House Committee on Public Order and Safety, chaired by Dan Fernandez, a councilor from Santa Rosa, focused on issues related to the POGO center in Porac, one of two Central Luzon gambling sites raided for human trafficking allegations. The June 4 raid on the Porac POGO center resulted in the rescue of 186 foreign and Filipino workers. In Tarlac's Banban, authorities found 371 Filipinos and 497 foreigners working at another gambling site.
Fernandez noted that the close relationship between the personnel involved in the drug operations and the POGO operations is also an important factor in the investigation.
In addition to the committees chaired by Barbers and Fernandez, the House Human Rights Committee and the Committee on Public Accounts also participated in the joint hearing.
