Dela Rosa, Go deny Duterte admin drug war reward system

Families of thousands of victims of extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration are hoping to get justice for their dead loved ones from the International Criminal Court, former Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares said.

This as retired police colonel Royina Garma on Friday confirmed that Duterte ordered the implementation “on a national scale” of the so-called “Davao template” that rewarded cops for every drug suspect killed.

Garma, during her testimony at the House Quad Comm, revealed three modes of payment or rewards during the Dutert administration’s bloody war on drugs: first, for every suspect killed; second for the planned operations; and third, the refund of operational expenses.

Colmenares, who represented the National Union of People’s Lawyers that is cooperating with the ICC probe, said EJK perpetrators have made it difficult for families of victims to file cases here in the country.

“It is difficult to file cases here because it is difficult to get evidence. No CCTV, no police report, no police investigating. Even prosecutors refuse to file cases,” he said.

Colmenares said some of the death certificates of the EJK victims showed they “died of broncho-pneumonia.”

For his part, Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who was PNP chief during the Duterte administration, denied knowing the so-called “Davao model” of the reward system for every drug suspect killed.

Dela Rosa said he did not engage in a reward system while he was PNP chief due to the lack of funds.

The only reward system he acknowledged was for the list of most wanted persons from the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

“I have no idea (why Garma made that testimony),” Dela Rosa said.

Senator Bong Go also denied a reward system existed during the Duterte administration.

“I want to clarify that no reward system was implemented before in exchange for anyone’s life,” Go said.

“The former President has stated clearly numerous times that his administration never sanctioned nor tolerated any form of senseless killings,” he added.

Meanwhile, retired police colonel Edilberto Leonardo resigned as commissioner of the National Police Commission (Napolcom).

He submitted his resignation to the Office of the President following Police Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza’s controversial expose that he and Garma ordered the killing of retired police general and PCSO board secretary Wesley Barayuga.

Leonardo’s resignation, dated October 4, took immediate effect and was confirmed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.

Leonardo was previously implicated in the killing of three Chinese drug lords at the Davao Prison and Penal Farm.

During the Friday Quad Committee hearing, Garma also named Leonardo as the chief implementor of the “Davao Model” of Duterte’s war on drugs.

Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Bato denies knowledge of Duterte’s drug war reward system.”