By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Lawmakers have urged former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to attend the hearing of the House Quad Committee “if he has nothing to hide” to shed light on the allegation that he ordered the killing of three alleged Chinese drug lords in a Davao prison in 2016.
During Thursday’s (22 August 2024) investigation in aid of legislation, inmates Fernando Magdadaro and Leopoldo Tan Jr. revealed that the three alleged Chinese drug lords were stabbed to death inside the Davao Prison and Penal Farm in exchange for money and their freedom.
Tan claimed that he overheard Superintendent Gerardo Padilla, the then officer-in-charge (OIC) of the facility, being “congratulated” by Duterte through a phone call.
“Habang naglalakad kami… tumunog ang cellphone ni Superintendent Padilla. Narinig ko na ang tumawag, [sinabing]: ‘Congrats, Superintendent Padilla, job well done. Pero grabe ‘yung ginawa, dinuguan.’ Alam ko na ang kausap ni Superintendent Padilla ay si President Duterte dahil pamilyar ang boses niya,” Tan told the House panel.
The House Quad Committee is investigating the links between alleged extrajudicial killings (EJKs), illegal drugs, and the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) involved in criminal activities and proliferated during the previous Duterte administration.
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