Multi-Committee Investigation Launched into Former President Duterte’s Anti-Drug Campaign
A newly formed multi-committee panel from the Philippines’ House of Representatives is set to investigate potential connections between former President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial anti-illegal drugs campaign and Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs). The investigation will also probe allegations of officials accepting bribes from “drug money” to allow the covert expansion of POGOs.
Key Points:
- Panel Formation: Four House committees are joining forces for this investigation:
- Dangerous Drugs
- Public Order and Safety
- Human Rights
- Public Accounts
- Objectives: The panel, operating under House Resolution 1880, aims to:
- Investigate links between the drug war and POGOs
- Propose “remedial legislation” based on findings
- Timeline: The first meeting is scheduled for August 15, as announced by Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, Chair of the House Dangerous Drugs panel.
- Scope of Investigation:
- Examine potential connections between Duterte’s anti-drug campaign and POGOs
- Investigate allegations of bribery involving “drug money” and POGO proliferation
- Political Context:
- The investigation is not intended as “political persecution” against former President Duterte
- Duterte will be invited to address issues from his term
- The probe began before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced a nationwide POGO ban
Official Statements
Rep. Dan Fernandez, Chair of the House Public Order and Safety Committee, emphasized the interconnected nature of the issues and the need for an efficient investigation. He noted, “Basically, we really saw that all the issues are interconnected,” and confirmed that House Speaker Martin Romualdez supports the panel’s creation.
Rep. Bienvenido Abante, Chair of the House Human Rights Committee, highlighted the importance of former President Duterte’s potential testimony, stating that the investigation will cover issues that “only the former President can shed light on.”
Broader Implications
The investigation comes at a time of increased scrutiny of POGOs in the Philippines. The recent nationwide ban on POGOs by President Marcos Jr. has garnered support from both the Philippine public and many of their representatives. Additionally, the ban has received praise from China, adding an international dimension to the issue.
As the investigation unfolds, it is expected to have significant implications for both domestic politics and the gaming industry in the Philippines. The panel’s findings could potentially lead to new legislation and further reforms in the country’s approach to both drug enforcement and offshore gaming operations.