LIVE: 9th House Quad Committee hearing on illegal drug trade crimes

MANILA, Philippines — The Quad Committee of the House of Representatives, composed of the Committees on Dangerous Drugs, Public Order and Safety, Human Rights, and Public Accounts resumed its joint inquiry into the extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration's drug war on Tuesday, October 22.

The mega-panel, led by Committee on Dangerous Drugs chair Rep. Robert Ace Barbers (Surigao del Norte, 2nd District) with fellow members Committee on Public Accounts chair Joseph Stephen “Caraps” Paduano, Committee on Public Order and Safety chair Dan Fernandez, and Committee on Human Rights chair Bienvenido Abante, are also probing the connection of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) and the illegal drug trade.

They are also joined by Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr., Deputy Speaker David “Jay-jay” Suarez and Committee on Transportation chair Romeo Acop.

During the last hearing on October 11, self-confessed drug lord Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa attended the hearing for the first time and alleged that former Philippine National Police chief and now Sen. Roland “Bato” dela Rosa asked him to implicate former Sen. Leila de Lima, Peter Lim and other personalities in the illegal drugs operations.

Espinosa said he complied out of fear for his and his family's safety. He claimed that Dela Rosa warned him that if he did not follow the plan, he and his family would share the same fate as his father, former Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., who was killed inside the Baybay City Provincial Jail in an alleged shootout with Criminal Investigation and Detection Group personnel.

Espinosa said he obliged fearing for his and his family's safety. He said Dela Rosa warned him that if he did not follow the plan, he and his family would share the same fate as his father, former Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. Espinosa Sr. who was killed inside the Baybay City Provincial Jail in an alleged shootout with Criminal Investigation and Detection Group personnel.

Garma described the Davao model as a three-tier payment and rewards system. This involves being rewarded if the suspect is killed, getting funding for planned operations and refund of operational