Former presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo has strongly criticized the findings of the House Quad Committee’s (QuadComm) investigation into the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
Panelo dismissed the accusations presented during the hearings as unreliable. “The allegations made [against] these people are either coerced testimonies or based on hearsay, or both,” he stated, asserting that such claims “will never stand in court.”
Political Motivation Alleged
Panelo accused the QuadComm hearings of being politically motivated, claiming they were orchestrated to tarnish the reputation of former President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Sara Duterte. “These hearings were designed to destroy Duterte and his daughter so that the latter can be eliminated in the 2028 presidential race,” he alleged.
The statement follows remarks from QuadComm vice chairperson and Antipolo Representative Romeo Acop. At the conclusion of 12 hearings, Acop alleged that Duterte was at the center of a criminal syndicate tied to the illegal drug trade and other illicit activities.
Hearings and Allegations
Acop based his claims on testimonies from resource persons presented during the joint panel’s investigation. He criticized the effectiveness of Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, pointing to a “slight” decline in drug users and questioning the policy’s overall impact.
Panelo’s remarks come amid heightened political tensions, with QuadComm’s findings sparking significant public debate. Requests for comments from Acop and the QuadComm’s communications team are pending.