The Quad Committee hearings are bringing attention to the troubling connections between former President Rodrigo Duterte and the various controversies during his administration. As it turns out, the rise of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), the extrajudicial killings, and illegal drugs are all connected to Duterte himself. Duterte’s endorsement of POGOs as “malinis yan” or clean facilitated their entry into the country. Additionally, the extrajudicial killings were revealed as a cover-up to monopolize the drug trade and eliminate competitors for the Duterte family’s illegal drug trade business.
Former President Duterte’s presidential campaign was headlined by his “I hate drugs” slogan. However, testimonies from the first Quad Committee hearing exposed that the infamous 6.8-billion shabu shipment scandal of 2018 was linked to Duterte’s inner circle. This includes former Presidential son Pulong Duterte, Vice President Sara Duterte’s husband Mans Carpio, and former President Duterte’s economic adviser, Michael Yang. This revelation supports the numerous reports about a so-called “Davao group” (widely known as the Bureau of Customs), which points directly to the Duterte family’s illegal drug importations.
Additional testimonies during the next Quad Committee hearings exposed killings of convicted Chinese drug lords carried out by inmates following the instructions of the Philippine National Police (PNP). Mayors who were publicly tagged as local drug lords by Duterte were later killed while in custody or police raid. Directives were given to “neutralize” which in police language means to kill and eliminate by any means necessary, including killing. It was revealed that the killings were connected to Senators Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa and Bong Go, both of whom are known close associates of former President Duterte. Senator Bato carried out the orders of Duterte, while Senator Bong Go provided money from POGOs to fund the reward and quota system that existed to incentivize the police officers to carry out Duterte’s drug war.
Under former President Duterte’s reign, his favorite enforcers and cronies from Davao quickly rose to powerful positions. Police Colonel Royina Garma, who was linked to the killings of the convicted Chinese drug lords, was appointed as General Manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) despite her lack of experience with PCSO. Senator Bato was the first Chief of the Philippine National Police under the Duterte administration, before running for the Senate in the 2019 national elections. Similarly, Senator Bong Go, a long-time executive assistant of Duterte, won a Senate seat in the same election. Despite their lack of qualifications and relevant experience, their close ties to Duterte helped them secure these national positions, allowing them to avoid accountability.
It is also no secret that Vice President Sara is planning to run for President in 2028. Given her family’s track record, the Philippines will see history repeat itself if she wins. The Filipino people have suffered greatly under Duterte’s administration, with widespread corruption and crime undermining public trust in the government.
This cycle of corruption and violence must be stopped. The Quad Committee has a crucial role in uncovering the truth and holding the Duterte administration accountable. And if the recent Quad Committee hearings are any indication, the members are doing an excellent job uncovering the links between the illegal activities and Duterte’s administration. As more witnesses come forward and more evidence is revealed in the next Quad Committee hearings, Duterte’s downfall is inevitable.

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