Cops killing ‘suspects’ in previous admin’s drug war ‘rewarded’ – ex-Duterte ally

Metro Manila, Philippines – Former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Royina Garma dropped a bombshell statement on the House inquiry into the Duterte administration’s bloody drug war, saying it adopted a so-called “Davao model” where killing suspects comes with a reward.

Garma, former station commander in Davao city, told lawmakers that she received a call from then President Rodrigo Duterte in May 2016 to set a meeting in his residence in Davao. Duterte assumed the presidency in June 2016.

“During our meeting, he requested that I locate a Philippine National Police (PNP) officer or operative who is a member of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, indicating that he needed someone capable of implementing the war on drugs on a national scale, replicating the Davao model,” Garma said in tears before the House quad committee on Friday, Oct. 11.

The ex-police officer, who was appointed to PCSO in 2019, said the model refers to a system involving payment and rewards.

“The Davao Model involves three levels of payments or rewards. First is the reward if the suspect is killed. Second is the funding of planned operations (or COPLANS). Third is the refund of operational expenses,” Garma said in her sworn affidavit.

How it began

The former police officer said she eventually recommended National Police Commission (Napolcom) Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo, who was her upperclassman in police school.

Garma said she was later informed that Duterte instructed Leonardo to create a task force similar to the current Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force.

She said Leonardo’s proposal was routed through reelectionist Senator Bong Go, Duterte’s former special assistant. This included the task force’s operations in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Garma also mentioned a number of names who served as the task force’s operatives, including discharged officers Rommel Bactat, Rodel Cerbo, and Michael Palma. Others were Lester Berganio and Peter Parungo.

She said Bactat, Cerbo, Palma, and Parungo were responsible for verifying information and creating a summary report concerning arrests and deaths of individuals in the narco list.

“All of these reports would then be encoded and compiled by Lester Berganio. The compilation is thereafter elevated to Leonardo who will decide what "level" the arrest and/or killing was and its corresponding reward. Rewards were only given for killings, while for arrests, only the funding of the COPLAN and a refund for the expenses was given,” Garma told lawmakers.

“Once the task force became operational, I later learned that all COPLAN funds, refunds for operational expenses, and rewards for agents were processed through the bank accounts of Peter Parungo at Metrobank, BDO, and PS Bank Concurrently, Lester Berganio maintained a comprehensive list of drug personalities in the Philippines,” she said.

Garma said Leonardo had the final say on who would be in the Duterte administration’s narco list. She added the Napolcom commissioner was also given the discretion to remove personalities from the records.

Napolcom vice-chairperson Alberto Bernardo said in the same hearing that Leonardo had resigned from his post.

Why speak up now?

Garma said no one forced her to speak up.

The former president’s aide said it took her a week to reflect on her actions.

“I realized the truth will set us free, Mr. Chair. And at least I will be able to contribute if we really want to make this country a better place to live and for our children,” she said.

Garma said she also chose to break her silence for people to regain their trust in the police.

Prior to Friday’s hearing, Garma was implicated in the killings of retired general Wesley Barayuga and three Chinese inmates in Davao.

The personalities named in the inquiry including Duterte and Go have yet to address the accusations.