What of cops ‘betrayed’ by Duterte, lawmakers ask

HOUSE PROBE Former President Rodrigo Duterte testifies at the House of Representatives on Nov. 13. —Niño Jesus Orbeta

MANILA, Philippines — Members of the House of Representatives want to check on the police officers who carried out what are now seen as questionable orders under the brutal antidrug campaign of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante stressed that such probe would not punish officers, but “assist them, particularly those willing to tell the truth about the directives they received.”

Abante said that law enforcers have expressed a desire to speak out, and the committee is prepared to assist them.

Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez cited data from Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rommel Marbil that around 195 police officers were dismissed and 398 more face dismissal for enforcing the campaign that killed thousands of Filipinos.

“What about their families? They lost their jobs, had their lives and dignity destroyed in following those orders,” Fernandez said.

Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers echoed Fernandez’s concerns, adding that many officers now face financial strain due to the cost of legal representation.

‘Betrayed’ by Duterte

He highlighted that some officers have resorted to loans to cover legal fees, and now feel “betrayed” by Duterte who promised them that he would protect them if they fulfill his orders during the antidrug war.

“I will take care of you,” the former president told policemen as he turned over patrol cars to the Davao City police on June 18, 2018.

“That’s our deal. When I said that you go and destroy the drug industry, destroying means destroying, including human life,” he added, reiterating a promise he repeatedly said after he was elected president in 2016.

“As a matter of fact, I’m ready to go to jail for them, no problem,” Duterte said in December 2016 as he defended 21 police officers who were charged for the killing of detained Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa.

The National Bureau of Investigation found that Albuera was executed in a supposed shootout at Baybay City Provincial Jail in Leyte.

While Philippine law does not recognize “ignorance of the law” as a defense in committing crimes, Fernandez said they want to know if they believed Duterte’s promises of protection or immunity, which were announced in many public engagements during his presidency.

Word of honor

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency officially reported toward the end of Duterte’s presidency that a total of 6,252 drug suspects were killed in the drug war as of May 31, 2022.

Some groups claimed that up to 30,000 may have been killed, but no proof of such claims have emerged over the past two years.

But two more congressmen scored Duterte’s nonchalance in keeping to his word, even if made in public.

Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong expressed disappointment at Duterte’s flipflopping stances over signing an absolute bank waiver, saying it would have been the chance to prove his innocence.

Adiong said he was confused by Duterte’s sudden demand that he would only sign an absolute waiver on his bank deposits if lawmakers and his accuser, former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, also sign their own absolute waivers.

“So, is it now the understanding of the committee that when the former president was asked by [Antipolo Rep. Romeo] Acop that the president be willing to sign any waiver would that be safe to assume, that that would be ‘conditional’?” Adiong said.

Duterte initially told Acop he was willing to sign the absolute bank waiver during the House quad committee hearing on Wednesday.

The waiver was in relation to Trillanes’ allegations that Duterte and his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, had bank accounts where P2.4 billion was deposited from 2011 to 2015 supposedly from the drug trade.

He also claimed that Duterte’s 2016 campaign contributor, Sammy Uy, deposited P120 million to the bank accounts of Duterte family members.