House probe bolsters belief Pogo money used in drug war – Abante

Former President Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. —MALACAÑANG FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The House quad-committee hearings have strengthened the belief that money from Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos) was used to reward police officers involved in drug war killings, Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. said on Tuesday.

According to the lawmaker, the quad-panel has exposed a network where smuggling, illegal activities in Pogos, and anti-illegal drug operations during the time of former President Rodrigo Duterte were interconnected.

“In just three hearings, the quad comm inquiry has exposed an intricate and expansive network of smuggling and trafficking in dangerous drugs, illegal Philippine offshore gambling operators or Pogos, and illegal gambling activities like jueteng that flourished during the Duterte presidency,” said Abante, who chairs the House committee on human rights.

“These Pogo and gambling activities are evils by themselves, but what is disturbing is that the funds from these illegal enterprises were channeled to fund incentives intended to reward law [enforcers] for eliminating their targets–even if this resulted in the wanton and widespread violation of human rights,” he added.

Last Aug. 7, Abante justified the inclusion of his panel in the quad-committee as they supposedly received information that Pogo money was used to reward cops allegedly involved in extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during the drug war.

READ: Abante defends rights panel’s role in joint probe on EJKs, drugs, Pogos 

The information was confirmed by Police Lt. Col. Jovie Espenido, who testified during the quad-committee hearing last Aug. 28 that money from small town lottery, Pogos, and intelligence funds were used to reward police officers who implement anti-illegal drug operations.

Espenido named the late mayor David Navarro of Clarin, Misamis Occidental as his informant about the scheme.

During the hearing, Espenido was also asked about how the Pogo money was given to police officers. He said it was channeled through Duterte’s former special assistant Christopher “Bong” Go, who is now a senator.

READ: Espenido told: Pogo money used to reward anti-drug units

Go denied Espenido’s accusation, saying it was an attempt to politicize and taint his name.

READ: Bong Go calls Espenido testimony malicious, slanderous

Abante also reiterated his call for Duterte, Go, and Senator Ronald dela Rosa — then chief of the Philippine National Police during the drug war — to attend the quad-committee hearings so that they can air their side regarding the issues.

“The quad comm has given every opportunity for them to address the testimony given by our resource persons, and I believe they owe it to the Filipino people to explain the conduct of the war on drugs from their perspective,” he said.

During the previous hearing, Espenido also implicated Dela Rosa as supposedly behind the order to kill drug suspects. According to Espenido, Dela Rosa ordered him to rid Albuera, Leyte of illegal drugs, which he took as a directive to kill people linked to the trade.

“The only instruction he said was ‘help me, Jovie, and President Duterte about this war against illegal drugs, so you should do well because I will assign you as chief of police of Albuera, so the drugs in Albuera should be gone’,” Espenido said.

When Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua asked what “removing illegal drugs” meant, Espenido said it was “killing people.”

“Your Honor, Mr. Chair, there is only one general word given, and we know its meaning. When they say ‘remove’, that means killing people, that is very, very obvious for us,” Espenido said.

READ: Espenido: Dela Rosa order for Albuera drug cleanup meant killing suspects

Dela Rosa also denied Espenido’s allegation, saying there is nothing wrong with his order to neutralize drugs as it does not mean killing suspects.

The quad-committee is set to resume its discussions on the issues by Wednesday, Sept. 4.

READ: Bato, Go dismiss Espenido’s claim of brutal drug war of past admin