By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet

Following claims made by Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and former Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo asserting that the mega-panel’s investigation was designed to destroy former President Rodrigo Duterte and his allies, senior vice chair of the House Quad-Committee and Antipolo City 2nd District Representative Romeo Acop insisted that the committee’s work is grounded in evidence and not driven by personal or political motives.

“We’re just doing our job. This is not about destroying anyone or any group. It’s about uncovering the truth, no matter how uncomfortable it may be,” Acop said.

“If Sen. Dela Rosa feels the findings are inaccurate, he should present evidence to counter them rather than resorting to baseless claims of political intent,” he added.

Acop, tasked with presenting a summary of the committee’s findings after 13 public hearings, said the Duterte administration’s brutal war on drugs served as a cover for a “grand criminal enterprise” where the former president and his inner circle enabled and profited from the illegal drug trade they had publicly vowed to eliminate.

He cited, among other damning testimonies, the statement of former police intelligence officer Col. Eduardo Acierto, who explicitly named former President Duterte and Senators Christopher “Bong” Go and Dela Rosa as allegedly “key figures in protecting the illegal drugs network in the Philippines.”

Dela Rosa, in an interview, took exception to the claim that he was behind the proliferation of illegal drugs, given that he was the chief implementer of the war on drugs. 

The former PNP chief engaged in a heated exchange with Acop, challenging the latter to meet him before a church altar to determine who was telling the truth. In response, the Antipolo lawmaker reiterated that his summation is fully backed by the Quad-Comm’s findings, based on testimonies and evidence gathered from 13 hearings.

Acop, a lawyer and a former police general, criticized Dela Rosa’s behavior, pointing out that it violates a long-standing tradition of respect within the Philippine Military Academy, where both lawmakers are alumni.

“Sen. Dela Rosa should remember that respect begets respect. If he truly believes in this value, he should engage in proper discourse and refrain from emotional outbursts and theatrics, like invoking religion to avoid accountability,” the Antipolo lawmaker stressed.

The House leader also reminded Dela Rosa to ponder his criticisms of other public figures in the past. Likewise, he addressed the former PNP chief’s frustration by urging the latter to remain calm and maintain professionalism in discourse.

“We go by the pieces of evidence presented in the hearings. There’s no speculation or hearsay…witnesses like Col. Acierto and others came forward voluntarily to share what they know. If anything, these testimonies are being scrutinized because they were ignored during Duterte’s time. Now, the guilty parties are feeling the pressure and are trying to deflect,” Acop declared.

Solon lambasts ex-presidential legal counsel for speaking on behalf of former President Duterte

Meanwhile, Acop questioned Panelo’s credibility and authority to speak on the Quad-Comm’s findings on behalf of former President Duterte.

“Minion ka ng dating Presidente. Bakit hindi ang dating Presidente mismo ang magpaliwanag? Abogado ba siya ni dating President Duterte? Ang alam ko, si Atty. Martin Delgra ang opisyal na abogado niya,” Acop said, referring to the former LTFRB chair who represented Duterte in a previous committee hearing.

“Former President Duterte himself said things that aligned with the evidence we uncovered, particularly on extrajudicial killings,” he added further.

The Antipolo lawmaker also underscored that Panelo attended just a single hearing and therefore lacked the basis to question the findings.

“Atty. Panelo is entitled to his opinion, but his statements are baseless and uninformed. He just attended a single hearing when former President Duterte appeared, so he has absolutely no grasp of the overwhelming evidence and damning testimonies presented before the committee,” Acop asserted, reiterating that the Quad-Comm’s ongoing probe on the Duterte administration’s war on drugs is conducted with clear intentions. (with report from Mela Lesmoras/PTV News)

-av