By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Two leaders of the so-called Young Guns in the House of Representatives expressed on Sunday (13 Oct 2024) their belief that retired police colonel Royina Garma’s exposé involving former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Senator Christopher “Bong” Go—regarding alleged P20K to P1 million cash rewards to police officers during the previous administration’s “bloody drug war”—is just the tip of the iceberg.
Reps. Jefferson “Jay” Khonghun and Francisco Paolo Ortega V said the revelations of the former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager offer Filipinos a glimpse into the inner workings of the Duterte administration.
“It’s just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. It comes from someone who not only had the trust and confidence of the former president but had a deeper level of involvement,” said Khonghun, of Zambales’ First District.
“This is not something that can be easily dismissed. Garma’s testimony carries significant weight, especially if other witnesses and documentary evidence corroborate her claims,” he added.
Ortega, who represents La Union’s First District, pointed out that Garma’s disclosure before the Quad Comm last Friday (October 11, 2024) is only the beginning of uncovering a deeper, more troubling issue regarding extrajudicial killings during the previous administration.
“Garma’s explosive testimony involves not just hundreds but thousands of lives lost during drug operations, including innocent children and teenagers—all under the guise of combating the drug menace,” Ortega said.
“There is much more to uncover, and we are committed to getting to the bottom of these serious allegations. The Quad Comm will not stop until all the facts are uncovered because this is about accountability,” Ortega emphasized.
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