Garma: Duterte called to explain choice for drug war task force leader

Former Police Col. Royina Garma  (SCREENGRAB FROM HOR LIVE STREAMING)

MANILA, Philippines — Retired police colonel Royina Garma admitted that former president Rodrigo Duterte called her up to explain why an Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) member was needed for the nationwide task force on the war on drugs.

Garma on Tuesday, at the hearing of the House of Representatives’ quad committee, said that Duterte got in touch with her last Thursday, October 17, and pointed out that INC members are known to be careful with handling money — hence such a requirement.

“Tumawag sa’yo si former president Duterte, kailan po?  (Former president Duterte called you up? When? Before or after you testified during the last hearing?).” Castro asked.

“After I testified your Honor, last Thursday […] Um, he just explained why Iglesia ni Cristo ‘yong hinanap niyang officer,” Garma replied. 

“Ang sabi niya mapagkakatiwalaan sa pera ang Iglesia ni Cristo (INC members can be trusted with money matters),” Garma added.

Garma said in the October 11 quad committee hearing that then president Duterte, after winning the 2016 presidential race, May contacted her to ask her to find a Philippine National Police (PNP) operative who can implement the drug war on a national scale, with the “Davao template” in mind.

Duterte said that the task force head has to be an INC member — leading Garma to former police colonel Edilberto Leonardo.

Castro then asked if that statement from Duterte — that an INC member is needed as they are careful with money — was an indirect admission that money was turned over to Leonardo, as Garma previously testified.

“So ibig sabihin, dahil siya na mismo ang nagsabi na mapagkakatiwalaan sa pera, so ibig sabihin — inductive reasoning lang Mr. Chair — so ibig sabihin mapagkakatiwalaan ng pera si Col. Leonardo.  Dahil Col. Leonardo is an Iglesia ni Cristo.  Parang gano’n ang implication sa’yo,” Castro said.  “So ibig sabihin, nabibigyan ng pera si Col. Leonardo, ‘yong mga rewards?”

 “Yes Mr. Chair,” Garma said.  “It can be interpreted that way, maybe your Honor.”

Garma, in an affidavit submitted to the quad committee which she read last October 11, confirmed that there are three modes of payment or rewards in the drug war — first, for every suspect killed; second for the planned operations; and third, the refund of operational expenses.

According to Garma, she told Duterte that she is unaware of “any individual with those qualifications” as she has not been assigned outside of Davao. 

However, she remembered her upperclassman, Leonardo.

Garma also said that Leonardo told her that he made a proposal outlining the task force’s operations, coursed through Senator Bong Go who was then the special assistant to Duterte.

She also admitted that initially, she facilitated the meetings between Go and Leonardo.  Eventually, Garma said that the two men “established direct communications”.

Garma testified that it was also Leonardo who conducted briefings for all Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) officials and even Philippine National Police (PNP) chiefs — even having the final authority on who would be on the drugs watchlist.

Leonardo denied Garma’s claims, saying that the latter may have more knowledge of the task force’s operations compared to him.

Garma and Leonardo were both invited by the quad committee for their alleged involvement in extrajudicial killings.