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From gun fires and fist fights in the movie set to word wars, contempts and impeachments, action indeed never stopped for Sta. Rosa City Representative Dan Fernandez. 

To the younger generation, he is among the prominent faces that hogged headlines since last year. As the chairperson of the House committee on public order and safety comprising one fourth of the so-called “quad committee,” the body probed links among offshore gaming operators, Chinese syndicates, illegal drug trade and extrajudicial killings in the country. 

To the quite older ones, he isn’t just among quad comm chairs, he is also one of the most iconic action stars of the ‘90s. 

Movies and TV

Before he became a public servant, Fernandez was best known for his action movies and television appearances. 

Who would forget the character of Kardo Davis, the one who held the secret of the identity of Mara (Judy Ann Santos) and Clara (Gladys Reyes) in his diary in the long-running ‘90s Kapamilya drama series “Mara Clara?”

In the movies, among his most notable films were “Bagwis” (1990), “Angelito San Miguel at ang mga batang city jail” (1991), “Paranaque Bank Robbery: The Joselito Joseco Story” (1993), “Bratpack” (1994), “Cobra” (1997), “SPO2 Braullo Tapang” (1999) and many others. 

Education

Not known to many, the actor-politician is a licensed optometrist having earned his doctor of optometry degree from the Centro Escolar University in Manila. He even took up law school at the University of Santo Tomas but was unable to finish due to his acting career. 

Politics 

Like many showbiz personalities, Fernandez tried his luck in politics and ran for governor of Laguna in 2004 but lost. Three years later, he tried again and this time won as the representative of the lone district of Sta Rosa City. 

His service however was cut short when the House Electoral Tribunal annulled his election for failing to complete the two-year residency requirement which was eventually reversed by the Supreme Court. 

In 2016, Fernandez ran and won as the mayor of Sta. Rosa and reclaimed a House seat in 2019. 

Quad comm 

The House quad committee was indeed a sure hit. 

The revelations and discoveries dug from the hours-long hearings topped the twists of a classic telenovela. The findings of the quad comm led to their recommendation of filing criminal charges against former President Rodrigo Duterte for the supposed abuses of his administration in his bloody war on drugs. 

But it isn’t all praises for quad comm. Most of the time, it was condemned by human rights rights advocates for supposedly abusing its contempt powers. 

Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio who represents Lucky South 99 authorized representative Cassandra Li Ong has time and again hit the quad comm for how easily they serve contempt orders. 

Topacio also lodged an ethics complaint against Fernandez accusing him of violating the House of Representatives Code of Conduct. 

Topacio recommended Fernandez’ removal from the lower chamber for allegedly depriving Ong of the right to communicate with her legal counsel and for misinterpreting jurisprudence from Supreme Court decisions.

This was calmly answered by the lawmaker who said he will not back down any accusation against him. 

In the coming midterm elections, Fernandez is gunning yet another try into the gubernatorial seat of Laguna.