The year 2024 was a tumultuous one for both politics and the internet when it comes to unexpected plot twists and contempt citations from the House mega panel.
Apart from the various testimonies and shocking revelations; this year, the House of Representatives formed one Committee to conduct inquiries on the links between the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), illegal drugs, and the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during former President Rodrigo Duterte's term.
For DZRH's year-end recap, we are circling back to the beginning of the House Quad Committee's (Quad Comm) series of inquiries that left the nation binge-watching hearings, not shows this 2024.
Where it All Began
The mega panel—composed of the Committees on Dangerous Drugs, Public Accounts, Public Order and Safety, and Human Rights—began its first joint public hearing at the Villa de Bacolor Convention Center in Bacolor, Pampanga back in August. At that time, the Committee was authorized to conduct a comprehensive joint investigation on the pressing issues that the country is facing on POGOs, illegal drugs, and EJKs. Former Bureau of Customs (BOC) Intelligence Officer Jimmy Guban shed light on the matter by submitting an affidavit.
It was after the joint Committee's first inquiry that Vice President (VP) Sara Duterte first cried "political harassment," on the panel's allegations.
Linking Cassandra Ong, Alice Guo, and Shiela Guo
The Alice Guo investigation did not end with the Senate's inquiry, as more information surfaced after Senators grilled the former on her citizenship and business.
Earlier this year, Guo repeatedly denied her Chinese citizenship and claimed that she was Filipino. Several documents pointed otherwise, even linking the raided POGO hub in Bambam, Tarlac to the ones in Porac, Pampanga. This frenzy led to authorities discovering the intricate web that connected Cassandra Ong of the Lucky South 99 and Shiela Guo.
After Indonesian authorities nabbed Ong and Guo, they were immediately turned over to the Philippines, beginning a lengthy probe into their real identities.
Just like Guo, Ong repeatedly denied having any deeper involvement with all POGO businesses. Numerous crimes related to human trafficking, kidnapping, torture, and many others were linked to the previous raids conducted by operatives.
Ong was initially considered to be a state witness in the mega panel's inquiry but was later dropped from consideration after inconsistencies with her testimonies were found.
Subsequently, Ong, Ronalyn Baterna, and others who were involved in the Lucky South 99 scam farm in Porac, Pampanga were charged with human trafficking last September.
Alice Guo is labeled as a Chinese Asset
Meanwhile, before being detained at the Pasig City Jail, Guo was labeled as a spy by jailed Chinese asset, She Zhijiang. The dossier's claims had lawmakers and the public in a frenzy over Guo's real identity and the striking similarities with how the so-called Chinese assets planted businesses in other Asian countries.
Alice Guo, who is also known as Guo Hua Ping, is currently detained at the Pasig City Jail Female Dormitory. The Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) recently denied the former's petition for bail. She is currently facing charges related to her business' ties to human trafficking.
Tony Yang's Involvement
Next in line for POGO involvement is Michael Yang's brother and Chinese businessman, Tony Yang.
Following his arrest at the NAIA Terminal 3 in September, Yang was summoned to the Quad Comm and Senate hearings. After a series of inquiries, Yang was tagged as the true architect of the Yang Brothers' illegal operations; and as the mastermind of the criminal syndicate in the Philippines.
Moreover, testimony from dismissed Police Colonel Eduardo Acierto, linking Duterte, Allan Lim, and the Yang brothers added fuel to the fire.
The Barayuga Slay Case
Moving on from POGOs, the Quad Comm also played a crucial role in determining former President Duterte's war on drugs system.
One of the big revelations in their hearing was former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Royina Garma and NAPOLCOM Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo's roles in the murder of former PCSO Board Secretary Wesley Barayuga in 2020.
This led to a comprehensive investigation by the Philippine National Police (PNP). Garma was later charged by the PNP for her involvement with Barayuga's assassination.
The Davao Model
In one of the hearings, former PCSO General Manager Garma confirmed how Duterte's war on drugs paralleled the Davao model template when it comes to the rewards system. Additionally, Garma also submitted an affidavit to the Quad Comm, detailing the template and implicating other officials on their involvement with the EJKs.
Garma's explosive testimony on Duterte's cash for killings was echoed by former Senator Leila de Lima, as she detailed the connections between the Davao Death Squad and the war on drugs model.
This revelation also prompted Kerwin Espinosa to reveal that it was Senator Bato dela Rosa who ordered him to link de Lima in the drug case.
ex-President Duterte's Appearance
After declining the mega panel's invitation numerous times, Duterte finally attended one of the hearings last November. However, the panel had one condition for the former President: he was prohibited from dominating the proceedings and from using profanity. This condition prompted the panel to suspend the hearing multiple times, due to Duterte making making threats and losing his temper with other guests.
Despite the EJK victims' families' testimonies, Duterte announced before the hearing that he is taking full responsibility for everything that happened during the bloody drug war. Seemingly unfazed, he even urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to hurry up and begin its investigation on the matter.
Roque, his fight between good and evil, and the 'Kangaroo Court'
Another personality implicated in the Quad Comm's investigation is former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque. His involvement was dug up after his bank documents were discovered in the raided POGO hub.
He was invited and questioned by the mega panel, where he was cited in contempt and was detained for 24 hours at the Batasang Pambansa Complex. After his detention, Roque thanked his supporters and criticized the Congress for 'silencing him' as a critic of the current administration.
Amid the manhunt for Roque, he made clear on social media that he is a critic of Congress, even labeling it as a "Kangaroo Court" that uses power to politically harass him and the Dutertes. He had been outspoken about his sentiments with the mega panel, coming to the Dutertes' defense about the former's inquiry on POGOs and illegal drugs.
Grijjaldo and his claims
Aside from the investigation, retired Police Colonel Hector Grijaldo also made claims of being pressured to conform to a predetermined narrative, during the Senate hearing. He claimed that it was Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. and Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez who coerced him to tell lies.
Following the incident, the two lawmakers mentioned that they were willing to inhibit themselves to set the record straight about Grijaldo's claims. However, the retired police colonel repeatedly skipped the probe, citing his health condition, which then prompted the panel to cite him in contempt.
So far, the Committee has already filed five bills to fix the loopholes and gaps in the country's legal framework.
