By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Two lawyers representing retired police Col. Royina Garma have asserted that two Quad Comm co-chairmen did not coerce Police Col. Hector Grijaldo into confirming the existence of a lucrative reward system for rogue policemen and hitmen who killed drug targets during the Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs.
Grijaldo made the coercion claim during the Senate’s initial drug war probe on October 28.
During the 10th hearing today, Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro revealed a joint statement signed by lawyers Emerito Quilang and Rotoiv Cumigad, who were invited as witnesses to a meeting between Quad Comm co-chairmen Representatives Dan Fernandez of Laguna, Bienvenido Abante Jr. of Manila, and Grijaldo.
“I wish to invite the attention of the committee and the general public about this joint statement from the two lawyers, whom I believe were present during that alleged incident or meeting,” Luistro said.
“If I may quote, Mr. Chair, the two lawyers state in this joint statement,” she added, before proceeding to read from Quilang’s and Cumigad’s statement:
“We would like to shed light on the nature of the interactions we observed. The discussions were focused on ensuring clarity and understanding of Col. Garma’s affidavit, particularly regarding any knowledge Col. Grijaldo might have about the reward system mentioned in it. At no point did any of the congressmen attempt to pressure Mr. Grijaldo into conforming to a predetermined narrative.”
“Mr. Chair, I wish to manifest that this letter clearly clears Chairman Abante and Chairman Fernandez from the allegation of coercion and harassment during the incident that allegedly transpired during the hearing where Col. Grijaldo attended, as testified during the Senate investigation,” Luistro told her colleagues.
“With the enlightenment provided by the counsels of record of Col. Garma, I am urging the Quad Committee, particularly Chairman Abante and Chairman Fernandez, to take the necessary actions to penalize the perjured statement that Col. Grijaldo gave during the Senate investigation,” she added.
After Luistro’s remarks, lead committee chairman Rep. Robert Ace Barbers of Surigao del Norte declared that the two lawyers’ joint statement be included in the mega panel’s record.
“Let it be on record that the letter sent to us by the lawyers of Col. Garma attests to the fact that no pressure was employed in the meeting held between Cong. Fernandez, Cong. Abante, and Col. Grijaldo,” he said.
Barbers instructed the Quad Comm secretary to provide copies of the lawyers’ statement to Grijaldo and the Senate.
In their joint declaration, Quilang and Cumigad, who were witnesses during the meeting between Representatives Abante, Fernandez, and Grijaldo, said, “We feel compelled to address the recent claims made regarding the supposed coercion and manipulation of testimony involving Colonel Garma’s affidavit.”
“First and foremost, we wish to clarify that we were called solely as witnesses or observers during this meeting. Our role was limited to observing the meeting, and we did not engage in any discussions. The dialogue was primarily between Congressman Dan Fernandez and Congressman Abante, who were the only individuals actively speaking,” they said.
“The discussions were focused on ensuring clarity and understanding of Colonel Garma’s affidavit, particularly regarding any knowledge Colonel Grijaldo might have about the reward system mentioned in it. At no point did any of the congressmen attempt to pressure Mr. Grijaldo into conforming to a predetermined narrative,” they emphasized.
The two lawyers further stated, “Throughout the meeting, we can affirm that we did not witness any form of coercion or undue influence directed toward Mr. Grijaldo. The discussions taking place were cordial and respectful.”
They pointed out that the two Quad Comm co-chairmen “engaged in a dialogue that was both professional and focused on the matters at hand.”
“At no point did we see or hear any actions or statements that could be interpreted as pressuring Mr. Grijaldo to conform to a specific narrative,” they stressed.
The lawyers emphasized their “commitment to integrity and transparency in the inquiry process.”
“Our intention in providing this statement is to clarify the nature of the interactions that occurred and to provide an unbiased and factual account of the events,” they said.
Garma and retired police Col. Jovie Espenido have testified to the existence of a well-funded reward system for killing drug suspects.
Espenido said funds for the rewards “flowed from the level of Sen. Bong Go (close aide of former President Rodrigo Duterte).”
He added that the incentive scheme was funded through intelligence funds and proceeds from illegal gambling activities like jueteng, Philippine offshore gaming operators, and the notorious small-town lotteries (STL) of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
Garma also stated that several police officers close to Duterte were given lucrative STL franchises.
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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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By Junex Doronio
MANILA — In an unexpected development, retired police colonel and former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Royina Garma revealed late Friday (11 Oct 2024) night that cash rewards ranging from P20,000 to P1 million were paid for every suspected drug pusher killed during the previous administration’s campaign against illegal drugs, led by former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
With this revelation, House QuadComm co-chair and Manila 6th District Representative Benny Abante stated that lawmakers would once again invite FPRRD, as Garma’s testimony directly implicated him in the “bloody drug war.”
In her affidavit submitted to the House panel, Garma disclosed significant information involving Duterte and his long-time aide, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, regarding their roles in overseeing and coordinating anti-drug operations.
Garma recounted a May 2016 meeting where Duterte instructed her to help find a Philippine National Police (PNP) officer to lead a national anti-drug task force, modeled after the “Davao Model,” a system rewarding police for killings.
“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 (COPLANS). Third is the refund of operational expenses,” Garma said.
She said she recommended her upperclassman at the PNP Academy, Police Col. Edilberto Leonardo, who was then with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).
Leonardo was soon brought into the fold and tasked with forming a specialized task force after meeting with Duterte.
According to Garma, Leonardo’s role expanded, and a formal proposal for the task force’s operations was submitted to Duterte through Go.
“Leonardo subsequently informed me that he had prepared a proposal, routed through Bong Go, outlining the task force’s operations, which would encompass Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao,” she explained.
Leonardo and his operatives began executing their plans, with Garma serving as an intermediary between him and Go during the initial months.
Garma’s affidavit also shed light on the inner workings of the task force, which Leonardo led.
She revealed that the task force had a reward system where only killings would earn payments.
Garma explained that the funds were funneled through the bank accounts of Peter Parungo, a former detainee, and meticulously tracked by Leonardo’s team.
Further implicating Go, Garma said that Leonardo would report all fatalities from police operations directly to the then Special Assistant to the President (SAP) for inclusion in his weekly reports, ensuring operational expenses were refunded.
“Si Leonardo ang may final authority para magpasya kung sino ang isasama sa listahan ng mga drug personalities at para i-classify ang kanilang threat levels, pati na ang discretion na tanggalin ang mga indibidwal sa listahan,” she added.
Garma also disclosed that the operations extended beyond the streets to key penitentiary systems, with drug activities allegedly originating from the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).
She recalled overhearing discussions between Leonardo and other officials about drug activities at the Davao Penal Colony, specifically mentioning BuCor officers involved in the drug trade who were later killed.
Garma affirmed her willingness to provide further testimony and additional details as the Quad Committee’s investigation into drug-related EJKs continues.
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By Junex Doronio
MANILA — The lead presiding officer of the House of Representatives Quad Comm has urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to file murder charges against retired police Colonels Royina Garma and Edilberto Leonardo for the July 2020 ambush-slaying of retired police Gen. Wesley Barayuga.
“We are in close coordination with the DOJ. They have representatives monitoring our hearings precisely because we are unearthing evidence of criminal activities and other acts of wrongdoing in the course of our inquiry. They should interview our two witnesses last Friday and assess their testimonies,” Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said.
He was referring to police Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza of the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group and Nelson Mariano, a drug informant of Mendoza.
Barbers, who chairs the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, said the DOJ should already take cognizance of Mendoza’s and Mariano’s testimonies and their affidavits and file murder charges against Garma and Leonardo as soon as possible.
“They do not have to wait for the (final) report of the joint committee, which will include a recommendation to file such charges. The panel will take time to write the report since the inquiry is still ongoing,” he said.
During last Friday’s Quad Com hearing, Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, who had the first opportunity to question Mendoza, suggested that such recommendation be included in the committee report.
Pimentel said it was clear from the testimonies of Mendoza and Mariano that Garma and Leonardo, who are among police officers close to former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, were allegedly behind Barayuga’s assassination on July 30, 2020.
He described Garma as a “ruthless killer” pretending to be a “meek lamb.”
In his testimony, Mendoza said in October 2019, Leonardo, allegedly upon Garma’s request, asked him to “operate” on a target, later identified as Barayuga.
He said in the context of the Duterte administration’s bloody war on illegal drugs, the term “operate” meant killing the target.
Garma and Leonardo are Mendoza’s seniors or upperclassmen at the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA).
The police officer said he obeyed his PNPA seniors’ instruction by asking Mariano to contact a potential hitman, whom the two of them called as “Loloy.”
He said Leonardo also told him that a trusted aide of Garma, known as “Toks,” would call him for other details.
He said he referred Toks to Mariano, who testified that the alleged Garma aide gave him information on the movement of Barayuga on the day “Loloy” carried out the assassination not far from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office in Mandaluyong City.
Barayuga was PCSO board secretary, while Garma was then its general manager.
Mariano said the information supplied by Toks included a picture, apparently taken by Garma, of Barayuga while attending a PCSO meeting on that fateful day in July 2020, and a description of the vehicle Barayuga would use and its plate number.
Mendoza’s drug informant said the real-time information was relayed via mobile phone through Viber.
Barbers said the DOJ should ask Mendoza and Mariano to submit the mobile phone evidence linking Garma and Leonardo to Barayuga’s assassination.
“The exchange of messages via Viber and the supposed photo of Barayuga taken by Garma during their PCSO meeting will strengthen the case against Garma and Leonardo,” he said.
During last Friday’s hearing, Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop showed Mariano a copy of a picture of Toks.
The witness confirmed that it was the same person he met and who gave him P300,000 as payment for the assassination of Barayuga, who was a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Matikas Class of 1983.
Acop, also a PMA graduate, said the late PCSO board secretary was killed because he opposed Garma’s desire to expand PCSO’s small-town lottery (STL) operations, including the grant of STL franchises to friends of Garma and police officers close to then President Duterte.
“That was the real motive. They just made it appear that Atty. Barayuga was involved in drugs. He was a victim of the war on drugs. He was a simple man. He rode public transportation and brought his ‘baon’ to his office,” he said.
Acop also chided then PCSO chairperson Anselmo Pinili, a PMA classmate of Barayuga, for allegedly suppressing information about his classmate’s ambush-slaying.
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By Junex Doronio
MANILA — The House Quad Committee on Friday, September 27, 2024, cited Police Sergeant Enecito Ubales Jr. in contempt and ordered his detention for allegedly lying about over P50 million in suspicious financial transactions linked to his first cousin, former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Royina Garma, a close associate of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
The Quad Committee is conducting an ongoing investigation into alleged extrajudicial killings (EJKs) connected to Duterte’s controversial war on drugs.
Ubales will be held at the Quezon City Jail until the panel concludes its inquiry.
The decision, led by Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, came after the committee determined that Ubales had been consistently untruthful during the hearings.
During the session, Police Captain Delfinito Anuba testified that Ubales was involved in questionable financial transactions tied to Garma. Anuba claimed Ubales gave him P30 million to convert into U.S. dollars, reportedly on Garma’s instructions. He also stated this was not the first instance, mentioning previous conversions of P20 million and other amounts during Garma’s tenure as PCSO general manager from 2019 to 2022.
According to Anuba, these funds were allegedly sent to Garma’s former husband, Police Colonel Roland Vilela, who was then serving as a police attaché at the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles, California.
Despite Ubales denying the accusations, lawmakers were unconvinced. His repeated denials under oath led to the committee’s motion to hold him in contempt.
The Quad Committee, consisting of members from the Committees on Dangerous Drugs, Public Order and Safety, Human Rights, and Public Accounts, is investigating potential links between Garma’s financial misconduct and extrajudicial killings during Duterte’s anti-drug campaign.
Lawmakers suspect that Garma, a retired police officer, played a significant role in the 2016 killings of three Chinese drug lords inside a Davao prison, allegedly under Duterte’s orders. They believe her appointment as PCSO general manager may have been a reward for her involvement in these activities.
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