In a press briefing on Tuesday, Quad Committee chairpersons Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez and Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. discussed the recent Senate hearing statements and allegations about extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during the Duterte administration.

Fernandez strongly denied allegations of pressure or harassment linked to the sworn testimony of Police Col. Hector Grijaldo at the Senate hearing.

He explained that these actions “never happened” and clarified that the meeting mentioned in the testimony was held at the request of retired Col. Royina Garma.

“Unang-una, talagang there was an incident na talagang pinatawag namin siya pero not on our own volition. Because it was Col. Garma as what I am saying sa mga interviews sa akin that asked na kausapin si Col. Grijaldo,” Fernandez clarified.

He further explained that the meeting was part of a vetting process and involved other participants, including Abante and two of Garma’s lawyers, to ensure transparency.

“Kasi vetting process pa lamang yun. Alam mo sa Kongreso, kinakausap muna namin and then kapag nalaman namin na pwede nating i-validate yung sinasabi niya, then the lawyers will come out,” he said.

Fernandez also mentioned his surprise at Grijaldo’s presence, noting that the Quad Committee had not formally invited him as a resource person regarding EJKs before Garma’s testimony.

“Noong bago mag-testify si Col. Garma, he was there. He was there and he wasn’t even been invited. Nagulat na lamang ako nandun siya at hindi ko siya kilala,” he said.

Fernandez expressed his hope that Grijaldo would gain clarity, emphasizing that Grijaldo’s role was only in a minor issue related to Gen. Wesley Barayuga’s case and not the primary investigation.

“Nagugulat kami na nakikisawsaw siya sa isang bagay na hindi naman siya involved,” Fernandez noted.

He suggested that the allegations were an attempt to damage his and Abante’s reputations and discredit the Quad Committee’s work, emphasizing that the meeting resulted from Garma’s request.

Fernandez also responded to former President Duterte’s statements accusing him of encouraging false testimony and threatening legal action. He reaffirmed the Quad Committee’s integrity, their dedication to transparency, and their readiness to address any legal issues.

“And if this is the way that we need to act on certain things that happened, then we will confront the issue,” Fernandez stated.

Abante also addressed the impact of Duterte’s comments, emphasizing the need for justice in EJK cases.

He highlighted Republic Act 9851, or the “Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity,” noting that the Quad Committee is not filing lawsuits but aims to create laws to prevent future EJKs and ensure accountability.

“Nais lang namin ang katotohanan mailabas dito para makapagpagawa kami ng mga batas na hindi na maaaring mangyari pa ang extrajudicial killings. Nag-file na nga kami ng unang-unang bill tungkol dyan na making extrajudicial killings a heinous crime,” he said.

Fernandez also stated that local courts would take charge of such cases and called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to enforce the law effectively, in line with various international conventions on issues like genocide and children’s rights.

Abante and Fernandez, along with Surigao del Sur Rep. Robert Barbers and Abang Lingkod Partylist Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano, lead the quad committee, which consists of the Committees on Human Rights, Public Order and Safety, Dangerous Drugs, and Public Accounts.

This committee is jointly investigating the connections and possible criminal activities involving illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), illegal drugs, EJKs, and human rights abuses.

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Mariing itinanggi nina Fernandez at Abante ang anumang pananakot kay Grijaldo.

Sa isang press briefing noong Martes, tinalakay nina Quad Committee chairpersons Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez at Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. ang mga pahayag at alegasyon sa Senate hearing tungkol sa extrajudicial killings (EJKs) sa panahon ng administrasyong Duterte.

Mariing itinanggi ni Fernandez ang mga alegasyon ng pamimilit o pananakot, na ayon sa kanya ay walang katotohanan at batay sa testimonya ni Police Col. Hector Grijaldo sa Senado.

Ipinaliwanag niya na ang mga sinasabing aksyon ay “never happened,” at nilinaw na ang nasabing pulong ay ginanap sa kahilingan ni retired Col. Royina Garma.

“Unang-una, talagang there was an incident na talagang pinatawag namin siya pero not on our own volition. Because it was Col. Garma as what I am saying sa mga interviews sa akin that asked na kausapin si Col. Grijaldo,” paglilinaw ni Fernandez.

Dagdag pa ni Fernandez, ang pulong ay bahagi ng vetting process at kasama rito ang iba pang mga tao tulad ni Abante at dalawang abogado ni Garma para masiguro ang transparency.

“Kasi vetting process pa lamang yun. Alam mo sa Kongreso, kinakausap muna namin and then kapag nalaman namin na pwede nating i-validate yung sinasabi niya, then the lawyers will come out,” sabi ni Fernandez.

Ibinahagi rin ni Fernandez ang kanyang pagkagulat sa presensya ni Grijaldo, na hindi naman daw pormal na inimbita ng Quad Committee bilang resource person tungkol sa EJKs bago pa man magpatotoo si Garma.

“Noong bago mag-testify si Col. Garma, he was there. He was there and he wasn’t even been invited. Nagulat na lamang ako nandun siya at hindi ko siya kilala,” aniya.

Ipinahayag ni Fernandez ang kanyang pag-asa na magkakaroon ng linaw si Grijaldo sa kanyang papel, na nakasentro lamang sa isang maliit na isyu na may kaugnayan sa kaso ni Gen. Wesley Barayuga at hindi sa pangunahing imbestigasyon.

“Nagugulat kami na nakikisawsaw siya sa isang bagay na hindi naman siya involved,” dagdag ni Fernandez.

Sinabi rin niya na ang mga alegasyon ay tila hakbang upang sirain ang kanyang reputasyon at ni Abante, pati na rin upang ipahina ang gawain ng Quad Committee, na ang pulong ay bunga ng kahilingan ni Garma.

Sinagot din ni Fernandez ang mga pahayag ni dating Pangulong Duterte na inaakusahan siya ng pang-uudyok ng maling testimonya at nagbanta ng legal na aksyon. Pinagtibay ni Fernandez ang integridad ng Quad Committee, ang kanilang dedikasyon sa transparency, at ang kanilang kahandaang harapin ang anumang legal na isyu.

“And if this is the way that we need to act on certain things that happened, then we will confront the issue,” ani Fernandez.

Idinagdag din ni Abante ang kanyang saloobin sa mga sinabi ni Duterte, na binibigyang-diin ang pangangailangan para sa hustisya sa mga kaso ng EJKs.

Ipinunto niya ang Republic Act 9851 o ang “Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity,” at binanggit na ang Quad Committee ay hindi nagsasampa ng kaso, kundi naghahangad na makagawa ng batas upang maiwasan ang mga EJK at masiguro ang pananagutan.

“Nais lang namin ang katotohanan mailabas dito para makapagpagawa kami ng mga batas na hindi na maaaring mangyari pa ang extrajudicial killings. Nag-file na nga kami ng unang-unang bill tungkol dyan na making extrajudicial killings a heinous crime,” aniya.

Ipinahayag din ni Fernandez na ang mga lokal na korte ang may hurisdiksyon sa mga ganitong kaso at nanawagan siya sa Department of Justice (DOJ) na ipatupad ang batas nang epektibo, ayon sa mga internasyonal na kasunduan na nauugnay sa mga isyu tulad ng genocide at karapatan ng mga bata.

Si Abante, Fernandez, kasama si Surigao del Sur Rep. Robert Barbers at Abang Lingkod Partylist Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano, ay mga pinuno ng quad committee, na binubuo ng mga Committee on Human Rights, Public Order and Safety, Dangerous Drugs, at Public Accounts.

Ang komiteng ito ay nagsasagawa ng pinagsamang imbestigasyon sa mga koneksyon at posibleng krimen na may kinalaman sa mga ilegal na Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), iligal na droga, EJKs, at mga paglabag sa karapatang pantao.

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