MANILA, Philippines — Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers dismissed claims that current and former police officials were pressured to testify against the previous administration in drug war cases, calling them mere “gossip.”
In an online interview on Friday, Barbers was asked if he knew about claims that Police Maj. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr., who has been invited to different House of Representatives hearings, was among the current and former Philippine National Police (PNP) officials who were asked to reveal information on alleged extrajudicial killings (EJKs) under former President Rodrigo Duterte’s term.
According to Barbers, it seems to be just ‘marites’ (gossip) as both Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) Director General Ricardo de Leon have separately denied these accusations.
“Well, first of all, regarding General Caramat, it seems to be just a ‘marites,’ that such conversations or a meeting happened between them, as I think Congressman […] Zaldy Co has already vehemently denied that,” Barbers told reporters.
“He said that (pressuring Caramat) did not happen. The only occasion where he met the good general was maybe I think twice. And such a topic was not discussed,” he added.
Co and de Leon’s statements came after Senator Ronald dela Rosa claimed that the pair, along with House Speaker Martin Romualdez and former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, met with Caramat and other PNP officials to discuss cases against him and Duterte before the International Criminal Court.
Both Co and de Leon said that they met Caramat, but the discussions were about the police official supposedly hoping to get recommended as the next PNP chief. In exchange for the recommendation, Caramat allegedly vowed to spill what he knew about EJKs.
However, de Leon said that Romualdez told Caramat that appointing a PNP chief would be the prerogative of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., with the Speaker adding that he has no influence over these decisions. This was also echoed by Co.
READ: Nica chief, Co deny pressing PNP execs to testify in ICC
Barbers agreed with Romualdez, saying that appointing a PNP chief is a task exclusive to a sitting president.
“If the gossip is about asking for an appointment as Chief PNP, like what the Speaker stood about, it is not in his powers to appoint a Chief PNP,” he said.
“That is in the hands of our President because that is based on the trust and confidence of the people he believes can implement programs towards maintaining the peace and order situation in our country,” he added.
Barbers is one of the heads of the four committees tasked to investigate the links between Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos), the illegal drug trade, and alleged EJKs in the Duterte administration’s drug war.
The following committees and their chairpersons were tasked under House Resolution (HR) No. 1880 to check the interconnection of the issues:
- Committee on dangerous drugs (Barbers)
- Committee on public order and safety (Santa Rosa Rep. Dan Fernandez)
- Committee on public accounts (Abang Lingkod party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano)
- Committee on human rights (Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr.)
READ: Quad-committee probe on EJKs, Pogos not aimed at Dutertes – panel
But before these four committees were asked to convene as a joint panel, Caramat figured in different investigations, particularly regarding the Pogo hub raids in Pampanga and the human rights violations in the drug war.