Chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs and Surigao del Norte 2nd District Representative Robert Ace Barbers noted that the quad-committee investigating issues related to POGO operations, drug trafficking, and extrajudicial killings believes that a major criminal syndicate or organized criminal gang may have been responsible for these illegal activities in the country.
"Ang aming teorya, mayroong malaking criminal syndicate or organized criminal gang na naandito sa atin na ‘yun ang ginagawa," Barbers said during an exclusive interview with DZRH for 'Dos Por Dos' segment on Monday.
Barbers clarified that the quad-committee was formed due to the interconnected nature of its investigations, emphasizing that the issues tackled are linked to one another.
The quad-comm involves the House Committees on Dangerous Drugs, Public Order and Safety, Public Accountability, and Human Rights.
"Itong quad-comm kasi ay binuo ito ni Speaker Martin Romualdez dahil nga maraming imbestigasyong ginagawa ang mga committee ng congress, lalo na itong apat na komiteng ito," said Barbers.
Barbers mentioned that the syndicate may have involved selling drugs, bribing government offiials, turning police personnel into ninja cops, buying private lands, and acquiring fake documents pretending to be Filipino just so they could legally purchase a property.
"99% dito ay Chinese," Barbers mentioned.
"Dahil dito sa sindikatong ito talaga ay marami ring naturn-off na mga posibleng investor sana na mag-lolocate dito sa Pilipinas," he added.
Possible investors are being hesitant due to the presence of these notorious illegal activities in the country.
Barbers mentioned that former Bureau of Customs (BOC) officer Jimmy Guban sent a letter to the quad-comm mentioning that he had information that could help the committee address the issue of drug trafficking, which is why they listened to him.
Guban, during the committee hearing, named Davao City First District Representative Paolo Duterte, son of former President Rodrigo Duterte, and Atty. Mans Carpio, husband of Vice President Sara Duterte, and Michael Yang as the key personalities involved in the seized shabu shipment in 2018.
"Mayroon kaming natanggap na judicial affidavit n’ya na ginamit daw n’ya doon sa hearing," Barbers said.
In 2021, Guban recanted his initial testimony contrary to what he mentioned in the congressional meeting.
“Tinitimbang ng aming komite, kinokunsulta natin ang ating mga legal experts dyan sa kongreso dahil nga titignan natin," said Barbers.
"It has to be substantiated by evidence ‘yung mga sinasabi," he added.
"Di naman paniniwalaan agad ang kanyang sinabi, titignan pa nila ang bigat at kung ito ba ay tatayo sa korte," Barbers mentioned.
The burden of proof is with Guban, citing his need to solidify his claims and testimony.
