Fernandez: Duterte’s call to Garma about 2 other topics I can’t disclose

Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte | PHOTO: ROBINSON NIÑAL/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s call to former police colonel Royina Garma was not only about his explanation of his preference for the head of the national task force that implemented the drug war, Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez said on Thursday.

In an online press briefing, Fernandez said there were two more topics discussed when Garma and Duterte talked last October 17, contrary to Garma’s initial claims that it was only about why Duterte preferred an Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) member as head of the task force.

However, Fernandez admitted not having the clearance from Garma’s lawyer to disclose the two other topics, as it is a private conversation between her and Duterte.

“We don’t want to break it (details) here unless they have some approval, so that they would not feel betrayed after they mentioned this information in confidence, right?  Then suddenly we would speak. I think it’s not fair for them,” he said in Filipino.

“So give us time, we will talk to them again…Actually, there are two big issues there, chairman Barbers (Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers) knows that, but these two topics, I think it is quite heavy,” he added.

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

When asked to clarify if Garma talked to Duterte other than the INC topic, Fernandez said “yes,” noting that it was about the testimony and their relationship.

“It’s actually embarrassing to INC because they are dragged into these issues when these should be personal,” he said in Filipino.

“So basically what I, together with the chairmen, discussed with Col. Garma was not about that. It’s about something else, about her testimony, about their relationship, something like that,” he added.

Quad committee lead presiding officer Barbers declined to give details, but he agreed with Fernandez that contrary to Garma’s statements at the previous hearing, it was not just a one-minute call.

“It’s a private conversation. She only shared what she can share,” he added.

Last Tuesday, Garma said Duterte called her to explain that an INC member was needed for the task force because they are known to be careful with handling money.

Garma said during the October 11 quad committee hearing that after Duterte was elected president in May 2016, he contacted her asking that she find a Philippine National Police (PNP) operative that can implement the drug war on a national scale, with the “Davao template” in mind.

The Davao template refers to a reward system where police officers who kill drug suspects in operations are given a monetary reward ranging from P20,000 to as high as P1 million.

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

Duterte said the task force head has to be an INC member, leading Garma to former police colonel Edilberto Leonardo, a former member of the PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

Garma also said that Leonardo told her that he made a proposal outlining the task force’s operations, coursed through Sen.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 testified that it was also Leonardo who conducted briefings for all Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency officials and even Philippine National Police chiefs, and had the final authority on who would be on the watchlist.

Last Tuesday, Leonardo initially denied Garma’s claims, but he eventually corroborated two of her sworn affidavits.

READ: Leonardo: Rewards system existed; validates Garma’s testimony