MANILA, Philippines – After minutes of back and forth with interpellating lawmaker 1-Rider Representative Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez, former president Rodrigo Duterte eventually confirmed that he looked for cops from Iglesia ni Cristo for his anti-drug operations.
“That is why sinabi ko, Iglesia ni Cristo. So kasi ang Iglesia ni Cristo, normally, hindi mo talaga ma-corrupt. Hindi natatanggap ng pera, alam ko kasi mayor ako. You cannot easily corrupt a member of the Iglesia ni Cristo who is a policeman or soldier. ‘Yan, that is the explanation,” Duterte said during the House of Representatives’ quad committee hearing on Wednesday, November 13.
(That is why, I asked for an Iglesia ni Cristo member. Because an Iglesia ni Cristo member is normally incorruptible. They don’t accept bribes, I know because I am a mayor. You cannot easily corrupt a member of the Iglesia ni Cristo who is a policeman or soldier. That’s the explanation.)
In her bombshell affidavit, retired police colonel Royina Garma confirmed how her former principal started the nationwide war on drugs. Garma also confirmed how Duterte rewarded cops for the drug war kills. In the affidavit, Garma also said they had a meeting where Duterte instructed her to find a Philippine National Police (PNP) officer or an INC operative capable of implementing on a national scale the war on drugs that was executed in his home turf.
The retired police colonel, known for her close ties with Duterte, said she recommended her upper class Edilberto Leonardo to Duterte because he was with the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and an INC member. According to Garma, Leonardo became the drug war’s chief strategist and had the power to include or remove a person in the anti-drug list.
During the Wednesday hearing, Duterte also confirmed that the position he sought to place an INC member was drug war-related. He further clarified that it was not for a police command, but rather for a special operations team that fights illegal drugs.
“Madali sa law enforcement na ma-corrupt. Kaya kailangan mo ang tao na ano… Sabi ko ‘yong mga Iglesia ni Cristo, hindi mo madali-dali ‘yan mabili (It’s easy for law enforcement to be corrupted. That’s why you need a person, that’s why I said you need an Iglesia ni Cristo because they’re hard to be bribed),” Duterte added.
The Congress quad committee has been probing extrajudicial killings, drug war, Chinese syndicates, and Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO). So far, the hearings have produced revelations like Garma’s affidavits on Duterte’s drug war and alleged death squad, and retired police officer Jovie Espenido’s confirmation of the reward system in the drug war.
Even Leonardo, whom Garma said she endorsed to Duterte, later confirmed Garma’s affidavits.
Duterte’s appearance on Wednesday marked his inaugural attendance in the hearings. – Rappler.com