Duterte ordered killing of drug inmates, hitmen claim

MANILA, Philippines —  Two inmates from the Davao penitentiary have come forward and tagged former president Rodrigo Duterte as the mastermind who indirectly ordered them to kill three Chinese drug lords inside the penal colony in August 2016.

Convicted drug dealer Leopoldo Tan Jr. confessed that he, along with fellow inmate Fernando Magdadaro, made good on their deal with Supt. Gerardo Padilla and stabbed Chinese drug lords Chu Kin Tung also known as Tony Lim, Li Lan Yan aka Jackson Li and Wong Meng Pin aka Wang Ming Ping.

Tan stated in his sworn affidavit that as soon as they killed the trio, they were called to the investigation section of the penal colony.

There, Padilla received a call on his cellular phone. Tan claimed he had an inkling it was Duterte on the other end of the line.

“I heard Padilla’s caller saying: ‘Congrats Superintendent Padilla! Job well done. But the job was grim, it was like a blood stew.’ I know that Padilla was talking with president Duterte because I am familiar with his voice,” Tan said in Filipino.

Appearing before the quad committee of the House of Representatives that is investigating extrajudicial killings during Duterte’s administration until June 2022, the duo admitted they were given P1 million each for the job, but complained that they were never granted the freedom promised to them.

Magdadaro and Tan, who gave their testimonies under oath, categorically stated that they issued their affidavits out of frustration and motivated by their wish to be released from prison, as promised by Tan’s high school classmate and alleged broker for the hit job, SPO4 Arthur Narsolis, among others.

Tan recalled that Narsolis visited him when the senior police officer was still assigned at the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detective Ggroup-11 in Davao City and his superiors were Col. Edilberto Leonardo, regional CIDG-11 chief, and Lt. Col. Royina Garma.

“I know Lt. Col. Royina Garma who has a relationship with Art,” Tan stated in his affidavit.

Tan quoted his policeman-friend telling him: “I have a job for you and this has the go signal from higher authorities. Maybe we could also help secure your freedom, we will talk with the president.”

Both inmates expressed their anger and frustration over the broken promises of freedom.

He claimed they were forced to admit killing Chu, Wang and Lee and were charged with homicide for the murders and received additional sentences following subsequent conviction despite assurances that they would be released.

Tan also said in his affidavit that everything stated in his affidavit was the truth and that no one influenced him. He also acknowledged that his statement might be used against him. The sworn statement was dated Aug. 21 and notarized in Baguio City by lawyer Jocelyn Runes Bulwayan.

Demolition job

Duterte’s former chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo dismissed the allegations as a mere demolition job.

“The demolition job on the Dutertes is in full swing. The enemies of FPRRD (Duterte) are using convicted felons of murders and drug trafficking to link him to the murders of the three Chinese detainees of which they were the perpetrators on the basis of their bare allegations,” Panelo said in a statement.

“Those convicts have nothing to lose since they are jailed for life,” he added.

Panelo claimed that the accusers are making statements “for a consideration.”

“If it is true as they say that they killed the three Chinese in exchange for money and release from prison, necessarily they can lie about FPRRD’s alleged link to the murders for the same consideration of money and freedom coming from those who want to destroy the Dutertes,” he said.

In a Facebook post, former presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the confessions have “no probative value as to the former president.”

“Res inter alios acta. Confessions bind only confessants and not third parties. No probative value as to third parties such as FPRRD,” the former Cabinet official said.