MANILA, Philippines – More and more details about alleged extrajudicial killings under former president Rodrigo Duterte are coming to light as the House of Representatives continues its probe into the drug war.
During the House quad committee inquiry on Wednesday, September 4, Corrections Senior Superintendent Gerardo Padilla alleged that retired police colonel Royina Garma threatened him, ordering him not to interfere in the alleged killing of three Chinese drug lords in Davao.
“Prior to such killings, I have been subjected to an intense pressure by then CIDG officer Royina Garma who called me up through the cellphone of another inmate Jimmy Fortaleza,” Padilla said in his September 2 affidavit seen by Rappler.
“Chief Garma told me, ‘We have personnel there who will work on the operation and you should not question it, and whether you like it or not, we will operate. Do not interfere, or your family might be in danger.’ She added that ‘You should cooperate or we will go after you,'” Padilla added.
Both Padilla and Garma, along with Duterte, are being tagged in the killings of Chu Kin Tung (alias Tony Lim), Li Lan Yan (alias Jackson Li), and Wong Meng Pin (alias Wang Ming Ping), who were detained at the maximum security facility of the Davao Prison and Penal Farm in Davao del Norte in 2016.
Leopoldo Tan Jr., an inmate there, alleged that cop Arthur Narsolis gave him the order to kill the three Chinese, with the help of his fellow person deprived of liberty (PDL) Fernando “Andy” Magdadaro.
In his affidavit, Tan said he heard Padilla, then-Davao prison acting chief, talking to a person over the phone, who was allegedly Duterte. Tan claimed that Duterte even congratulated Padilla over the phone after the incident.
Garma, meanwhile, is a retired cop and former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office chief known for her close ties with Duterte. She was mentioned by Tan in his testimony as one of Narsolis’ “bosses.” Another PDL, former cop Jimmy Fortaleza, alleged that Garma visited him in prison and told him about the “operation” against the Chinese drug lords.
“On the day of the killings, I was already in my quarters and no longer on duty. When I was informed of the incident, I immediately went to the crime scene and ordered medical team to bring the PDL to Davao Medical Center,” the BuCor official noted in his affidavit.
Padilla’s revelation about Garma was part of his second affidavit submitted to the House mega panel. He submitted an earlier affidavit, dated August 28, which contained a different set of information. The BuCor official’s new testimony contradicted his earlier statement, in which he said he did not know anything about the alleged operation.
“During the public hearing of the House quad comm held on August 28, 2024, when asked if I had a conversation with then CIDG Garma, I denied it because I was under threat and I am concerned with my safety and that of my family who lives in Davao City,” Padilla explained.
More confirmations
Fortaleza said in his affidavit that Garma talked to Padilla through his phone. Padilla confirmed during Wednesday’s hearing that the call indeed took place, after previously denying it.
Last week, the committee cited Padilla in contempt detained him for evading questions about the 2016 incident in the Davao prison.
Padilla said he knew Garma was a police officer, but did not knew her personally. The BuCor official also confirmed that he got scared of Garma’s threat because there was a “higher-up” behind Garma.
After almost two hours of questioning Padilla, the House mega panel agreed to hold an executive session with the BuCor official.
Unlike the publicized hearing, executive sessions are held behind closed doors, allowing resource persons like Padilla to divulge more information that is not yet for public consumption. – Rappler.com
*Quotes were translated into English for brevity