PNP to ask ex-chiefs to comment on drug war expose

Metro Manila, Philippines — Duterte administration national police chiefs will be asked to comment on the drug war exposé at the House of Representatives, the sitting Philippine National Police (PNP) chief said on Monday, Oct. 14.

PCol Royina Garma (ret.), in a House quad committee hearing on drug war-related extrajudicial killings (EJK), said eliminating drug suspects was rewarded in the previous administration.

“We have to take their statements and say something about it para (so) we know where we start doon po sa (in our) investigation natin,” PNP chief PGen Rommel Marbil said in a briefing.

“We just wait for the final output ng (of the) congressional hearing so we can really fully matapos natin 'yung (finish the) investigation,” he added.

Meanwhile, Malacañang has accepted the resignation of National Police Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo. Garma said Leonardo had the final say on who will be included in the Duterte narco-list.

Former PNP chiefs Guillermo Eleazar and Senator Ronald dela Rosa have responded to Garma’s testimony.

“Recalling my six-month tour of duty as chief PNP, I am confident to say that I neither underwent a briefing nor received any instruction from anybody about a reward system in the conduct of anti-illegal drugs operations. And the only instruction I received from then President Duterte was ‘to do what is right and legal,’” Guillermo told NewsWatch Plus in a message.

Dela Rosa said, “He is the current C,PNP, he can initiate his own fact finding effort since the PNP has been at the receiving end in the issue at hand.”

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, who has supervision over the PNP, said there will be no cover up weeding out misfits.

“There are no sacred cows in this institution and in this investigation,” he said. “They will be accorded no special treatment…no special privileges.”

Allies defend Duterte

Duterte’s allies came to his defense.

Former aide and Senator Bong Go denied such a reward system, adding that he is open to a Senate probe on Garma’s claims.

“Gusto ko malaman. Gusto natin malaman [at] mga kababayan natin ‘yung katotohanan,” Go said in a chance interview at the Senate. “Dati po siyang prosecutor. Hindi siya nagbibigay ng instruction na iligal.”

[Translation: I want to know. We, our fellow Filipinos, want to know the truth. (Duterte) is a former prosecutor. He won’t give illegal instructions.]

Duterte’s former spokesperson Salvador Panelo, meanwhile, branded Garma’s revelation as “pure imagination” or “fertile speculation.”

“Garma claims she declined being part of the alleged intended replication of the ‘Davao model.’ If that is so, then she could not have any knowledge of the Davao model plan — assuming there was one — if it was pursued or operated during the Duterte presidency,” Panelo said in a statement.

Another Duterte spokesman, Harry Roque, said Garma’s affidavit has not proven anything yet.

“Ang isang testimonya ng isang testigo na hindi sinubject sa cross examination, na hindi binigyan ng pagkakataon si Presidente Duterte at iba pang dinadawit niya na tanungin si Garma du’n sa mga sinasabi niya, ‘yan po ay hearsay,” said Roque, who has been cited in contempt by the House committee for skipping its inquiry on illegal offshore gaming.

[Translation: A witness’ testimony that has not been subjected for cross examination, which has not given President Duterte and others involved a chance to respond, or ask Garma further questions, those are hearsay.]