Palace backs PNP reopening of EJK probes

ICC lawyer: Gov’t probe ‘too little, too late’

MANILA, Philippines —  Malacañang yesterday expressed support for the Philippine National Police (PNP)’s plan to reinvestigate high-profile deaths tied to former president Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody war on drugs.

“Of course. The reopening of the investigations of the high-profile killings related to the war on drugs should indicate that the Marcos administration places the highest importance on the fair dispensation of justice and on the universal observance of the rule of law in the country,” Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said in a text message.

Bersamin was asked whether the Palace backed the PNP’s plan to reopen probes into the high-profile killings related to the previous administration’s drug war, which left more than 6,000 people dead, based on official records.

When he was president, Duterte, who had described the Philippines as a “narco state,” justified his brutal crackdown, saying it was necessary to save the next generation of Filipinos.

The former president had also directed law enforcers to shoot drug pushers and addicts dead if they feel that their lives are at risk and had vowed to take full responsibility for complaints against the campaign.

Earlier this week, PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil revealed that a committee has been formed to look into the allegations of retired police colonel Royina Garma, who claimed that Duterte and other officials had implemented the so-called Davao model that supposedly rewarded the killing of drug suspects.

Garma discussed the alleged payments and rewards scheme during a recent hearing of the House of Representatives quad committee probing the supposed extrajudicial killings tied to the anti-narcotics crackdown.

The incidents mentioned during previous House hearings include the death of three Chinese drug convicts in a Davao prison facility in 2016 and the assassination of former Tanauan, Batangas mayor Antonio Halili in 2018 and former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga in 2020.

Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, who served as PNP chief during the time of Duterte, and Sen. Bong Go, a former top aide of the former president, have denied Garma’s claims about the supposed rewards scheme.

Salvador Panelo, former chief legal counsel of Duterte, described the so-called Davao model as “pure imagination” and “fertile speculation.”

“Garma does not claim that she was part of or an operator or executioner of the Davao model, so how could she have known of its operation, assuming it did exist?” Panelo asked in a text message last week.

“It is noticeable that her knowledge of the alleged plan to fight illegal drugs is hearsay. She says the information was conveyed or relayed to her by her sources. She therefore has absolutely no personal knowledge. What is evident is that Garma may have succumbed to threat or intimidation under pain of prolonged incarceration if she did not make the allegations contained in her affidavit,” he added.

Panelo said Duterte’s “political enemies” and “detractors” are using coercion and money to compel persons to “testify falsely” against him.

‘Too little, too late’

For one of the lawyers representing the victims of the Duterte administration’s war against illegal drugs, current efforts to investigate the killings will not replace the ongoing probe of the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“I don’t think it will be enough. It’s too little, too late,” ICC Assistant to Counsel Kristina Conti told “Storycon” aired on One News yesterday.

“In the first place, they are not acknowledging the killings as part of an entire policy… For us, the baseline is that there are widespread and systematic murders. This is not just one or two or even 100 incidents,” Conti added.

The ICC official was asked about her thoughts on the PNP’s recent announcement that it would investigate the reward system supposedly implemented as part of the drug war.

Conti described Garma’s revelations as a “smoking gun” and said that it would be “very valuable” in the ongoing quest for justice for the drug war victims.

Given the limitations of the quad comm hearings, Conti said it is understandable that congressmen still want more evidence to corroborate Garma’s testimony.

But if assessed with the other evidence submitted to the ICC, such as the testimonies of self-confessed hitmen Arturo Lascañas and Edgar Matobato, Conti noted that the world of those behind the policy “is getting smaller.”

She urged the quad comm to expand its investigation and look at the killings committed by the so-called Davao death squad in Davao City, especially during the time of Duterte as mayor.

Conti said the committee could also look at other elements of the drug war policy, such as the source of funds used to reward those involved in the killings.

Garma, she said, could serve as a witness in the ongoing ICC investigation.

Despite the government’s refusal to cooperate with the international court, Conti said it is not totally impossible for the former police officer and PCSO chief to testify.

“I don’t see this as a hindrance. We just need to find a way and opportunity (to make that happen),” she said.

“Any reliable piece of information can be accepted by the ICC. It’s up to them if they’re going to pursue that information or that lead, and use it in case building,” she added.

Spreading Fake news?

Dela Rosa only wanted to spread “fake news” by a doing parallel probe on the drug war during the Duterte administration, ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro said yesterday.

Dela Rosa’s announcement to initiate the parallel probe, according to Castro, raises questions about the “credibility and impartiality” of the probe, “given Senator Dela Rosa’s association with the very operations under scrutiny.”

“We think that Senator Dela Rosa just wants to cause trouble, rock the investigation conducted by the quad comm and spread fake news,” Castro said.

“The sincerity and objectivity of this proposed investigation are in question, as it seems to serve as a diversion rather than a genuine effort to uncover the truth. What is that inquiry, in aid of legislation or he just wants to cover his responsibility, of president Duterte and others related to EJKs? Why are they investigating now? Shouldn’t there be an investigation or inquest for everyone killed in Duterte’s war on drugs and when he was PNP chief?” she added.

The lawmaker underscored the importance of integrity in legislative inquiries as she urged both chambers of Congress to focus on transparent and impartial investigations that genuinely aim to address the issues surrounding the drug war, rather than protecting individuals involved.

Barayuga, Halili slays

Meanwhile, police are investigating if the people who killed PSCO board secretary Barayuga and former Tanauan mayor Halili belong to one group.

PNPe public information officer Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo made the statement when asked if the two killings were connected following the revelations of Garma, a former PCSO general manager, in the House of Representatives quad comm hearing.

“All of that we will see if these alleged killings were contracted to the same group,” Fajardo said over dzBB radio yesterday.

Garma earlier revealed that a certain “Major Albotra” has knowledge about the assassination of Halili, who was allegedly shot by a sniper during flag-raising ceremonies in July 2018.

Garma, who retired from the police service as a lieutenant colonel, was tagged by Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza as the mastermind in the July 2020 ambush on Barayuga in Mandaluyong City.

The PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) is investigating high-profile killings during the Duterte administration, including that of elected public officials.

“Definitely, the CIDG will investigate all those killings if they are connected or the same group that carried out these killings,” Fajardo said.

She added that criminal cases are being readied against Garma, Mendoza, former National Police Commission commissioner Edilberto Leonardo and other personalities over Barayuga’s murder. – Sheila Crisostomo, Emmanuel Tupas, Janvic Mateo