The House of Representatives is set to revive the Quad Committee in the 20th Congress to resume investigations into key issues including extrajudicial killings (EJKs), illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) activities, and the controversial drug war under former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Manila 6th District Representative Bienvenido Abante Jr. confirmed the relaunch, citing unfinished work and the continued presence of the Young Guns bloc in the House.
Abante said over 10,000 POGO workers remain “unaccounted for,” while large operators that were dismantled have shifted into smaller, harder-to-track groups. Thousands of undocumented Chinese nationals also remain in the country, he added.
The lawmaker emphasized that the illegal drug trade is still widespread, despite the thousands of deaths recorded during the previous administration’s campaign.
Former Quad Committee members Representatives Paolo Ortega V, Zia Alonto Adiong, Gerville Luistro, Ernix Dionisio, and Jay Khonghun previously filed bills seeking to classify extrajudicial killings as heinous crimes and to implement civil forfeiture of properties acquired illegally by foreign nationals.
Abante added that the proposed Anti-EJK Bill includes the creation of an EJK Board that would provide reparations to victims and their families.
The renewed efforts aim to hold accountable those behind past abuses while tightening oversight on foreign-linked criminal activities.
