MANILA — (UPDATED) Former President Rodrigo Duterte has been implicated in the August 2016 killing of three alleged Chinese drug lords in Davao Prison and Penal Farm by its former warden, Corrections Senior Superintendent Gerardo Padilla.

During Thursday’s House quad-committee hearing, Padilla confirmed the statement of inmate Leopoldo Tan Jr. regarding a call he received after the hit on three Chinese inside the solitary confinement cell.

"Pinapatotohanan ko ang sinabi ni Tata na noong papunta kami sa investigation section ay tumunog ang cellphone ko at ito ay sinagot ko. Ang tumawag sa akin ayon sa boses ay si Dating President Rodrigo Roa Duterte at sinabing 'Congrats, Supt. Padilla. Job well done, pero grabe yung ginawa, ginawang dinuguan,'" Padilla said.

“Ano ang ginagamit n’yong telepono?” House Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 3rd District Representative Aurelio Gonzales Jr. asked.

“During that time, I have my cellphone, your honor,” Padilla replied.

GARMA INVOLVED?

The BuCor official also asserted that before the killing of three Chinese inmates inside the Davao Prison, he received a call from then CIDG Officer Royina Garma through the phone of inmate Jimmy Fortaleza. Garma and Fortaleza were classmates at the Philippine National Police Academy.

Padilla claimed that Garma informed him of the “operation” against the three Chinese targets and ordered him not to question or interfere. Padilla added that he and his family were threatened.

But Garma denied Padilla’s claims.

“He lied in the first hearing. The second hearing because he was detained, might be, he realized that sa kanya lahat ang kasalanan. He needs a fall guy. It’s easy to just blend in the facts presented during the first hearing. It is easy to say he fears for his life... Perception lang nila ‘yun, pero hindi ako nakakatakot,” she told the quad-committee.

“Wala akong motibo. I knew them through Jimmy Fortaleza,” Padilla asserted.

Some lawmakers raised doubts on Garma’s claim.

The quad-committee will request the National Telecommunications Commission to provide Garma’s phone records within the relevant period.

“Three statements from resource persons which is under oath, against the statement of Col. Garma, which is not even under oath... Somebody is not telling the truth in this interpellation. I believe that Col. Garma siya ang nag-direktor nitong insidenteng ito. She has contacts with Jimmy Fortaleza. It is perceived that you are very close to Duterte, is that true?” Surigao del Sur 2nd District Representative Johnny Pimentel asked.

The witnesses include self-confessed hitmen Leopoldo “Tata” Tan Jr. and Fernando “Andy” Magdadaro, who carried out the killings; former DPPF warden Supt. Gerardo Padilla; and former policeman Jimmy Fortaleza, Garma’s classmate at the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA).

“Inamin niya na siya mismo ang nagbigay ng mga direktiba. Tatlong beses silang nag-usap ni Jimmy Fortaleza para siguruhin na magiging maayos ang operasyon,” Pimentel said, referring to Garma’s admission of having conversations with Fortaleza.

Garma, however, denied that these discussions were related to the plan to kill the Chinese drug lords.

“That is their perception,” Garma replied.

Cong. Pimentel said Garma herself admitted meeting Fortaleza.

“Inamin po ni Col. Garma kanina, dalawang beses niya po inamin na totoo na nakipagkita siya kay Jimmy Fortaleza at sinabi niyang magkakaroon ng operation,” he said.

This was followed by a second contact occurred when Garma called Fortaleza, asking him to facilitate communication with Padilla. Garma reportedly asked Fortaleza to bring a cellphone to ensure she could speak directly with Padilla.

“Sinabihan ni Col. Garma si Col. Padilla na huwag silang makialam sa operation na gagawin sa Davao Penal Colony [now DPPF],” Pimentel narrated, exposing Garma’s alleged role in the operation.

CONTEMPT VS GARMA, ROQUE

Later on in the hearing, Garma was reduced to tears after House Committee on Public Accounts Chairperson and ABANG LINGKOD Party List Representative Joseph Stephen Paduano moved to cite her in contempt for “lying and evading relevant questions” from lawmakers.

The motion was approved by the joint panel and ordered Garma detained at the premises of the House of Representatives until the Quad Comm completes its investigation.

The House Quad Committee also ordered the detention of Police Master Sergeant Arthur “Art” Narsolis, who was implicated in the 2016 killing of three Chinese drug lords. Tan previously told the panel that it was Narsolis, who gave him instructions regarding the hit. Narsolis was cited in contempt for repeated failure to appear in the Quad Comm hearings.

Former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque accused the quad comm’s inquiry of being politically motivated and targeting the Duterte family and their allies.

“The House of Representatives Quad Committee’s current inquiry is a political inquisition against the Duterte family and me as their outspoken ally,” he said in a statement.

“Obvious ang target nito: Dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa isyu ng EJK; Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte at Atty. Mans Carpio, mister ni Vice President Inday Sara Duterte, sa isyu ng droga; at ako sa isyu ng POGO,” Roque added.

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