Leonardo: Rewards system existed; validates Garma’s testimony

MANILA, Philippines — Former police colonel Edilberto Leonardo has corroborated fellow ex-police colonel Royina Garma’s testimonies, confirming the existence of a rewards system in the past administration’s drug war.

At the ninth hearing of the House of Representatives’ quad committee that started on Tuesday and lapsed to Wednesday, Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. asked Leonardo to answer yes or no to his questions.

READ: Garma says Davao drug war template, rewards system applied in entire PH

Abante, chairperson of the House committee on human rights, asked Leonardo if he believed the two affidavits issued by Garma regarding the rewards system and the existence of the Davao Death Squad (DDS).

READ: Garma bares monetary reward range under ‘Davao drug war template’

“Ito na po ang question ko (my question is this), and this will only be answerable by yes or no. I am not going to ask anymore explanation, Col. Leonardo, sagutin niyo lang ako ng (just answer) yes or no. Doon sa dalawang affidavit ni (from the two affidavits of) Col. Garma na nabasa mo at napakinggan mo (that you read and heard). ’Yan ba ay pinapaniwalaan mo? Yes or no?” Abante asked.

“Yes, Mr. Chair,” Leonardo said.

Abante then clarified if Leonardo believes in the existence of a reward system for police officers who can kill drug suspects in the past administration’s drug war.

“Pangalawang tanong (second question), also answerable by yes or no. Naniniwala ka ba na merong (do you believe in the existence of ) rewards system? Yes or no?” Abante asked again.

“May narinig ako (I heard about it), yes, Mr. Chair,” Leonardo noted.

“Yes or no lang, naniniwala ka ba na merong rewards system, yes or no?” Abante said.

“Yes, Mr. Chair,” Leonardo replied.

Last October 11, Garma testified before the quad committee, saying that former president Rodrigo Duterte contacted her last May 2016 about the creation of a task force that can implement the drug war on a national scale, with the “Davao template” in mind.

Garma said the Davao template refers to a rewards system, with cash grants ranging from P20,000 to P1 million given to cops who kill drug suspects.

According to Garma, Duterte told her that the task force head has to be an INC member—leading Garma to tap 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 communication”.

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

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

Then at the Wednesday quad committee hearing, Garma claimed that the existence of the DDS in Davao City is common knowledge among police officers in the area.