HOUSE OF Representatives Quad Committee (Quadcom) overall chairperson, Rep. Robert Ace Barbers on Friday pushed for the passage of key legislative reforms aimed at dismantling criminal syndicates, holding corrupt officials accountable and restoring peace and order in the country.
During the seventh public hearing of the joint panel into interconnected issues of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), illegal drugs, money laundering, and extrajudicial killings (EJKs), Barbers outlined legislative reforms that are crucial in addressing the root causes of criminality.
The Surigao del Norte 2nd District congressman cited the need to revive the death penalty as a deterrent for heinous crimes, including drug trafficking and EJKs.
“Naging urong-sulong po tayo sa usaping death penalty noong mga nakalipas na panahon. Tingnan nyo ang nangyari. Sumama po lalo ang naging lagay ng ating kapayapaan at kaayusan. Hindi na takot ang mga kriminal. Lantaran ang ginawang pamamaslang na ngayon ay tinawag nating extrajudicial killings (We have been indecisive about the issue of the death penalty in recent times. Look at what happened. The state of our peace and order has worsened. Criminals are no longer afraid. They have become bolder in committing murder now, which we know as extrajudicial killings,” Barbers said.
Barbers also proposed amending the Cybercrime Law to address the rampant issues of online gambling, hacking, and investment scams, which have provided new platforms for organized crime syndicates.
Amending the Anti-Money Laundering Act, he said, would empower the government to take swift action against suspicious financial activities, even before formal charges are filed, ensuring that illegal funds are intercepted before they can be used to further criminal enterprises.
He said the Revised Corporation Code should be amended to prevent shell companies from being a tool for money laundering and other illicit activities, emphasizing that only legitimate individuals and entities should be allowed to create corporations.
He further suggested revisions to the Local Government Code to prevent the abuse of power by local government units in reclassifying and converting land, which has been exploited by foreign nationals and corrupt officials.
Barbers stressed the importance of reforms in birth registration laws to ensure that only true Filipino citizens are registered, preventing fraudulent claims of citizenship, as well as amendments to the Land Registration Act to ensure that only Filipino citizens and legitimate corporations can own land in the Philippines, thereby preventing illegal land acquisitions by foreign entities.
He also called for a review of the current system of visa issuance, recommending that the powers to issue visas be restricted to the Department of Foreign Affairs to prevent abuse by other agencies, which have facilitated the entry of foreign nationals involved in illegal activities
In strengthening the Witness Protection Act, Barbers said those testifying against organized crime should be provided with the highest level of security, as their testimonies are essential in bringing criminals to justice.
Barbers said these proposed amendments are vital to restoring public trust in the government and maintaining order in the country.
“The proposed legislations we have outlined today are not just responses to the pressing issues of illegal drug trade, POGO-related crimes, and extrajudicial killings; they represent a crucial step toward building a more just and secure future for our country,” he said. (Filane Mikee Cervantes)
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