The House of Representatives has reactivated the powerful “Quad Comm” — a joint body composed of four standing committees — with the adoption of House Resolution (HR) No. 106 during a recent plenary session.
This move marks the formal launch of what lawmakers are calling “Quad Comm 2.0,” an institutional mechanism designed to continue and expand the unfinished investigations initiated during the 19th Congress on a range of deeply rooted and unresolved national issues.
HR No. 106 authorizes the Committees on Human Rights, Public Order and Safety, Dangerous Drugs, and Public Accounts to jointly conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into lingering and emerging issues raised during the prior joint investigation of the original Quad Committee.
The resolution acknowledges the urgent need to revisit critical cases and address systemic problems that remain unrectified — particularly those involving allegations of extrajudicial killings, abuse of authority, illicit activities tied to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), and gaps in accountability across law enforcement and public agencies.
Manila 6th District Representative Benny Abante, who previously led the original Quad Comm, has resumed a key leadership role in the reconstituted panel, this time as Chair of the Committee on Human Rights.
Joining him are Bukidnon 2nd District Representative Jonathan Keith Flores, Chair of the Committee on Dangerous Drugs; Manila 2nd District Representative Rolando Valeriano, Chair of the Committee on Public Order and Safety; and Bicol Saro Party-list Representative Terry Ridon, who serves as Chair of the Committee on Public Accounts.
Abante said the reactivation of the Quad Comm is not merely an act of continuity, but a moral obligation to pursue truth and justice where it was previously denied or delayed.
The veteran legislator stressed that the work of the Quad Comm transcends partisanship and political color, and centers instead on accountability, transparency, and the sanctity of human life.
“There is still work that must be done — truths that remain hidden, perpetrators who remain unpunished, and families who still wait for answers,” the seasoned lawmaker said. “Justice does not expire with time.”
“This is not a partisan crusade. This is a moral one.”
He also rejected any claims that the committee’s reconstitution was politically motivated, stating, “This is not a partisan crusade. This is a moral one. Because murder knows no color but one — red, the color of blood unjustly spilled.”
During the 19th Congress, the Quad Comm undertook joint inquiries into several high-profile and politically sensitive issues, including the disappearance of cockfighting enthusiasts or “missing sabungeros,” the conduct of anti-drug operations by law enforcement agencies, and the rise of criminal syndicates tied to illegal offshore gambling operations.
The committee’s investigations unearthed deeply troubling patterns that cut across jurisdictions, prompting calls from civil society, victims’ families, and various sectors to continue the probe and translate findings into meaningful legislation.
With the reactivation of the Quad Comm, the House now seeks to build on the foundation laid by the original panel.
The new Quad Comm 2.0 will revisit previous testimonies, summon resource persons, and expand the scope of investigation to address fresh developments, including emerging organized crime networks and allegations of systemic abuse involving state actors.
The committee is expected to produce legislative proposals aimed at preventing abuses and strengthening institutional safeguards.
Among the priority bills being eyed are the proposed Anti-Extrajudicial Killing Act, a measure that will institutionalize procedures to prevent and investigate unlawful killings, and the Civil Forfeiture Act, which aims to seize ill-gotten assets of public officials and organized criminal entities.
Abante emphasized that Quad Comm 2.0 will be both investigative and legislative in nature, with a clear goal of ensuring that no injustice is swept under the rug.
He described the reconstitution as a test of political courage and an opportunity for Congress to assert its constitutional mandate of oversight and legislative action.
“This is about restoring the public’s faith in our institutions.”
“This is about restoring the public’s faith in our institutions,” Abante said. “It’s about ensuring that the House of Representatives remains a true bastion of the people’s rights and welfare.”
The joint panels are expected to convene in the coming weeks, with public hearings to follow.
Lawmakers from the four committees have expressed full support for the initiative and have committed to conduct the inquiry with transparency, diligence, and fairness.
With the reactivation of Quad Comm, the House of Representatives sends a clear and resolute message: the pursuit of truth, justice, and meaningful reform is not bound by political terms, and neither is its duty to protect the dignity and rights of every Filipino.
