House to look into possible use of intel funds in alleged reward system for drug war: Fernandez

Antonio Albano deputy speaker at the House of Representatives, Santa Rosa Laguna Congressman Dan Fernandez and Rep. Robert Ace Barbers Surigao del Norte, 2nd District  presides over the quad committee hearing on Dangerous Drugs, Public Order and Safety, Human Rights and Public Accounts as they share the head table with Rep. Robert Ace Barbers Surigao del Norte, 2nd District, House senior deputy speaker Aurelio Dong Gonzales and Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante as they hold its hearing at the Villa De Bacolor Convention Center in Bacolor Pampanga on August 16, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN NewsMANILA -- The House Quad Committee will investigate whether former President Rodrigo Duterte’s intelligence funds were used to reward cops who killed drug suspects in his administration’s war on drugs, according to Co-Chair and Santa Rosa City Representative Dan Fernandez.

He said this was prompted by the revelation of former police officer and former PCSO General Manager Royina Garma before the Quad Comm implicating Duterte in the implementation of the alleged “reward system”, patterned after the so-called Davao model, for his drug war. Garma said the reward ranged from P20,000 to P1 million.

READ: Garma says Duterte tapped 'Davao Model' on killing drug suspects

“Royina Garma told us na doon nanggaling sa Malacanang ang pera. So we need to find out saan talaga kinuha ‘yung pera and we're pretty sure doon ‘yun sa intel fund... Kung galing sa Malacanang ang pondo at operation ito ng pulis, so manggaagaling ito sa intel funds,” Fernandez said.

The Quad Comm plans to compare the timing of releases from the Office of the President’s intelligence funds with the drug-related killings from 2016 to 2022. Fernandez said the mega-panel will invite representatives from the Commission on Audit and check the documents pertaining to the utilization of OP’s intel funds for the period. He noted that OP’s intel funds ballooned under Duterte.

“Especially doon sa panahon na may pinatay na mga Chinese doon sa Davao, ‘yung tatlo, baka doon nanggaling. ‘Yung moment na tinransfer ‘yung pera, maaaring doon makita,” Fernandez explained.

“Ang titingnan natin kung paano lumabas ‘yung bulk ng pera. Kasi doon sa first two months ata, nakita namin, parang mayroong sudden increase... I think makikita natin sa COA ‘yan kung mayroong submitted documents pertaining doon sa release ng pera during the time from 2016 to 2022... Malaki ‘yung hiningi ni former President doon. So we will be asking what’s the reason behind,” he added.

Duterte’s former aide and incumbent Senator Bong Go asserted on Monday that there was no reward system in exchange for killings in Duterte’s drug war. Then Philippine National Police chief and incumbent Senator Ronald Dela Rosa also denied implementing such system in the PNP.

READ: Bato says he has 'no idea' about alleged reward system for cops in drug war

But Fernandez said Garma’s testimony on the alleged financial reward in exchange for killings was corroborated by other resource persons who faced the Quad Comm.

“Itong kila Royina Garma, this was under oath… Even si Colonel Marcos, doon sa kanyang testimony doon sa hearing, mayroon din siyang nasabi to the effect of paying ‘yung atin pong officers,” he said.

“‘Yun ang mahirap kapag sa outside tayo nagsasalita, we can say anything that we wanted. But of course, kapag nandoon na tayo sa hearing, nandoon na ‘yung repercussion that cases can be filed against you, dahil nga siyempre under oath na po tayo,” Fernandez added.

He denied allegations that the Quad Comm’s investigation is demolition job, adding that no affidavit issued by a resource person was made under duress.

The Quad Comm—composed of the Committees on Dangerous Drugs, Public Order and Safety, Human Rights, and Public Accounts—has been probing the links between illegal offshore gaming operators, proliferation of illegal drug trade, land grabbing by certain Chinese nationals, and the EJKs associated with the Duterte administration’s controversial anti-drug campaign.

ROQUE COUPLE

That’s before a look out bulletin was issued against her in September 16, and before the Quad Comm cited her in contempt and ordered her arrest last Friday over her repeated failure to attend its hearings.

READ: Immigration confirms Roque’s wife left PH in early September

“I heard nasa Sinagpore or Malaysia... Automatic naman ‘yan na pag may mga ganyang issue narereport agad  yan sa mga counterparts abroad... This action taken by her is an action of evading ‘yung ating invitation... The amount of money that entered the account of Secretary Harry Roque… we wanted to find out kung ‘yung amount na ‘yun ay saan nanggaling ‘yung pera,” Fernandez said.

The lawmaker, meanwhile, called out the Philippine National Police, which has yet to arrest Mr. Roque.

Last September 12, the former Presidential Spokesperson was cited in contempt anew by the House Quad Committee for failure to submit the documents, which are subject of a subpoena issued by the joint panel.

“The PNP is working so hard for it. Kaya nga ang sabi namin, aba, mahiya naman kayo… Nagkakaproblema na kayo sa Quad Comm dahil hindi n’yo makita si (dating) Secretary Harry Roque. Medyo nakakalungkot on the part of the PNP,” Fernandez said.

The Roque couple had been summoned by the Quad Comm to its ongoing probe into illegal POGO operations, which the former Cabinet official was accused of having links to. Mr. Roque previously argued that business records, tax returns, and other documents requested were not relevant to the inquiry, adding that the House inquiry was a political inquisition against the Duterte family and their allies. This allegation was denied by Quad Comm leaders.

According to PNP, the manhunt for Roque is still on-going.

"'Yung efforts naman ng PNP, particularly the trackers teams, ay hindi humihinto," said PNP Spokesperson PBGen Jean Fajardo, while acknowledging that there are "challenges" for them.

"But we are not giving excuses," she said. "What we can give now is our commitment. Hindi natin tatantanan 'yung paghahanap, not only with respect kay Atty. Roque, pati na rin sa ibang personalities na hinahanap natin." -- with a report from Jeff Caparas, ABS-CBN News

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