With the filing of five bills, Quadcom or The House Quad Committee has turned its investigative findings into legislative action. The bills aim to close legal loopholes linked to illegal activities involving POGOs, or Philippine offshore gaming operators. They also address extrajudicial killings or EJK during Duterte‘s drug war.
In a recent news release, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers and Quadcom lead chair said the series of hearings regulated by the mega-panel revealed how criminals and unprincipled individuals or groups managed to use the flaws, loopholes, and weaknesses of some of the existing laws of the country to further their criminal activities.
Barbers said that in a simple analysis, local and foreign crime syndicates carefully studied the weaknesses and loopholes in their laws and used them to carry out their illegal activities in their country.
Barbers said a statement to address these legal gaps, that the Quadcom filed the following measures.
The first is House Bill No. 10986. It classifies and penalizes extrajudicial killings as a heinous crime. The bill also provides reparations for victims.
The second is House Bill No. 10987. It prohibits all forms of offshore gaming operations in the country. The bill imposes severe penalties for violations.
Third is the House Bill No. 11043: Allowing civil forfeiture of unlawfully acquired real estate properties by foreign nationals.
Fourth is the House Bill No. 11117: Providing for the administrative cancellation of birth certificates fraudulently obtained by foreign nationals.
Fifth is the House Bill No. 10998: Punishing conspiracy and proposal to commit espionage.
Barbers stated that the Quadcom has recommended at least 30 proposed amendments to strengthen existing laws and prevent future abuses.
He said the investigations of committees were labor-intensive, involving extensive research, gathering resource persons, as well as analyzing critical documents.
Barbers said that it’s easy for critics, especially those who are paid, to tarnish or undermine the work of Quadcom.
