The Philippine House of Representatives recently officially passed Resolution No. 106, announcing the restart of the "Quad-Committee" investigation, focusing on highly sensitive issues such as offshore gaming (POGO), illegal drugs, extrajudicial killings, and government procurement corruption, aiming to promote legislative reform and accountability.
The investigation is jointly composed of four heavyweight committees: Human Rights, Public Order and Safety, Dangerous Drugs, and Public Accounts Committees. The proposer, Benny Abante, representative of the sixth district, pointed out that the previous Congress's related investigations left many unresolved doubts, necessitating further in-depth investigation in this session.
The "Quad-Committee" was initially established in August 2024, aimed at integrating multiple overlapping investigative leads. It had previously revealed shocking content, including espionage activities by POGO operators, illegal naturalization of foreigners, numerous deaths under Duterte's anti-drug campaign, and chaos in government procurement.
Abante emphasized that the current situation remains severe, with the public expecting truth and justice, and the legislative body must demonstrate action. He called for close attention from society and the media to the progress of the investigation, ensuring transparency and accountability.
The restart of this investigation is also seen as a signal from Congress for a comprehensive review of the POGO industry, focusing on its potential transnational crime, money laundering, bribery, and even intelligence infiltration risks, with the investigative team expected to face greater public and political pressure.
