One of the chairpersons in the House Quad Committee raised the possibility that former police officer Edilberto Leonardo might also come clean about his role in the alleged cash-for-killings that was enforced during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.
Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante, who chairs the Committee on Human Rights, said Leonardo indicated willingness to testify and shed light on the testimony of retired police colonel Royina Garma, who revealed the information during the October 11 Quad Comm hearing.
“We had an initial talk… He (Leonardo) asked that we talk to him. Initially speaking, he has an intention to, okay, talk about other details,” Abante was quoted saying in a GMA News report published Monday.
Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, who chairs the House Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, stressed the need for corroborative witnesses to step up and substantiate Garma’s claims.
“We are waiting for other witnesses to corroborate (Garma’s statements), so her revelations would have weight. Just because she revealed something or submitted an affidavit to us, we would believe it 100 percent,” said Barbers.
Garma previously served as a ranking police official in Cebu and Davao before joining the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). She revealed that then-President Duterte wanted a national implementation of the so-called “Davao Model” for his anti-drug operations.
She claimed that the previous administration rewarded cops for every drug suspect killed, depending on their profiles, which could range between P20,000 to P1-million per head. She also pointed to Leonardo as one of, if not, the chief architect of the system.
Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas called for a special audit of police funds, citing potential misuse in the alleged reward system following Garma’s “disturbing” revelations, which “could have amounted to millions.”
Barbers said the Quad Comm was inclined to invite other high-profile personalities Garma mentioned during last week’s hearing, including former President Duterte, Senators Christopher Lawrence Go and Ronald dela Rosa, who were allegedly involved in the entire conspiracy.
