• About
  • Contact Us
The Filipino American Post
Advertisement
ADVERTISEMENT
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • PH News
    • World News
    Lawyers debate after Court of Appeals invalidates De Lima’s acquittal

    Palace asks Roque to return after arrest warrant is issued

    Lawyers debate after Court of Appeals invalidates De Lima’s acquittal

    Lawyers debate after Court of Appeals invalidates De Lima’s acquittal

    Deeper probe on Chinese involvement in PH troll farms sought

    Deeper probe on Chinese involvement in PH troll farms sought

    Paolo Duterte sued for manhandling pimp; solon cries political harassment

    Paolo Duterte sued for manhandling pimp; solon cries political harassment

    Sara endorses Senate bets from rival camp as impeachment trial nears

    Sara endorses Senate bets from rival camp as impeachment trial nears

  • Community
  • EVENTS
  • Opinion
    • All
    • Column
    • Legal
    NaFFAA Honors Pope Francis a.k.a. Lolo Kiko

    NaFFAA Honors Pope Francis a.k.a. Lolo Kiko

    In this column, we will aim to raise awareness about osteoporosis, highlighting the importance of early screening and timely diagnosis, with a special focus on older women in the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities.

    In this column, we will aim to raise awareness about osteoporosis, highlighting the importance of early screening and timely diagnosis, with a special focus on older women in the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities.

    Should undocumented migrants file income taxes

    Why Student visas are being cancelled by DHS

    Berberine for diabetes

    May green card holders travel outside the United States?

    Can Caregivers be Petitioned for Green Card?

    The two important Medicare enrollment period will end on Mach 31, 2025. Additionally, be sure not to miss the application open period for home energy assistance.

    The two important Medicare enrollment period will end on Mach 31, 2025. Additionally, be sure not to miss the application open period for home energy assistance.

    Asylum as a defense to mass deportation

  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Arts & Culture
    • Business
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Travel
    The Colorful Pahiyas Festival

    The Colorful Pahiyas Festival

    The Magical Guyabano

    The Magical Guyabano

    What Your Moles Say About You

    What Your Moles Say About You

    Flores De Mayo: HONORING MAMA MARY

    Flores De Mayo: HONORING MAMA MARY

    The Endangered Mabolo or Velvet Apple

    The Endangered Mabolo or Velvet Apple

  • Online Newspaper
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • PH News
    • World News
    Lawyers debate after Court of Appeals invalidates De Lima’s acquittal

    Palace asks Roque to return after arrest warrant is issued

    Lawyers debate after Court of Appeals invalidates De Lima’s acquittal

    Lawyers debate after Court of Appeals invalidates De Lima’s acquittal

    Deeper probe on Chinese involvement in PH troll farms sought

    Deeper probe on Chinese involvement in PH troll farms sought

    Paolo Duterte sued for manhandling pimp; solon cries political harassment

    Paolo Duterte sued for manhandling pimp; solon cries political harassment

    Sara endorses Senate bets from rival camp as impeachment trial nears

    Sara endorses Senate bets from rival camp as impeachment trial nears

  • Community
  • EVENTS
  • Opinion
    • All
    • Column
    • Legal
    NaFFAA Honors Pope Francis a.k.a. Lolo Kiko

    NaFFAA Honors Pope Francis a.k.a. Lolo Kiko

    In this column, we will aim to raise awareness about osteoporosis, highlighting the importance of early screening and timely diagnosis, with a special focus on older women in the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities.

    In this column, we will aim to raise awareness about osteoporosis, highlighting the importance of early screening and timely diagnosis, with a special focus on older women in the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities.

    Should undocumented migrants file income taxes

    Why Student visas are being cancelled by DHS

    Berberine for diabetes

    May green card holders travel outside the United States?

    Can Caregivers be Petitioned for Green Card?

    The two important Medicare enrollment period will end on Mach 31, 2025. Additionally, be sure not to miss the application open period for home energy assistance.

    The two important Medicare enrollment period will end on Mach 31, 2025. Additionally, be sure not to miss the application open period for home energy assistance.

    Asylum as a defense to mass deportation

  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Arts & Culture
    • Business
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Travel
    The Colorful Pahiyas Festival

    The Colorful Pahiyas Festival

    The Magical Guyabano

    The Magical Guyabano

    What Your Moles Say About You

    What Your Moles Say About You

    Flores De Mayo: HONORING MAMA MARY

    Flores De Mayo: HONORING MAMA MARY

    The Endangered Mabolo or Velvet Apple

    The Endangered Mabolo or Velvet Apple

  • Online Newspaper
No Result
View All Result
The Filipino American Post
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Key Duterte ally details principals in bloody drug war at emotional Congress probe

by Ver Bermudez
October 17, 2024
in News, PH News
0
Key Duterte ally details principals in bloody drug war at emotional Congress probe

Royina Garma gives her tearful account of Duterte's drug war at a Congressional hearing (Photo from the House of Representatives)

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

A prominent figure of the past Duterte administration melted under the heat of an ongoing congressional probe into the alleged extra-judicial killings in the Philippines, revealing damaging information about the bloody war that pushed the former president, two senators and other major personalities suddenly in the defensive.

Retired police lieutenant colonel Royina Garma, the general manager of the state lottery agency during former president Rodrigo Duterte’s time, told the quad committee of the House of Representatives (QuadCom) that the nationwide drug war from 2016 to 2022 was patterned from the so-called “Davao model” in which deaths of alleged drug personalities could come with a monetary reward that amounted to as much as PHP1-million for every hit.

A police officer of Davao City when Duterte was still its mayor, Garma made the revelation in an emotional testimony before lawmakers who were out to break the mystery behind Duterte’s drug war that left thousands of alleged drug suspects dead. 

There have been conflicting estimates as to how many actually died during the bloody campaign. Police sources placed the count at around 6,000 deaths while human rights advocates claim the total number of victims could be between 20,000 to 30,000.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is investigating these deaths, separate from the domestic probes by the House, the Senate, the police and the human rights commission.

Garma’s explosive testimony at the House QuadCom, backed by an affidavit, dragged several key Duterte officials; among them former presidential assistant Christopher Go; former Philippine National Police (PNP) Ronald dela Rosa; and former police officer Edilberto Leonardo who has just resigned as commissioner of the National Police Commission (Napolcom).

Go and Dela Rosa, now senators, as Leonardo have flatly denied Garma’s allegations.

Duterte said he would be willing to appear before House QuadCom members on the condition that the questions thrown at him would be “educated” and “not stupid.”

His lawyer, former presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo, belittled Garma’s testimony on October 10. “The alleged meeting between her and FPRRD (former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) was in May 2016. FPRRD  assumed office as President only in July 2016. The so-called Davao model of payment and rewards is pure imagination or fertile speculation,” the lawyer posted in his social media account on October 11.

According to Garma’s depositions, she was summoned by then president-elect Duterte to his Davao City home and instructed her to recommend a police officer or a member of the influential Iglesia ni Cristo church who could implement the Davao drug war model on a national scale. The local model has been associated with the shadowy Davao Death Squad (DDS) that emerged when Duterte ruled Davao City for decades.

In Duterte’s purported discussion with Garma, the name of then Lt. Col. Leonardo surfaced and he was soon appointed as Davao regional chief of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG). He was later appointed by Duterte as  undersecretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) until he was given a seat in the Napolcom.

Garma, on the other hand, built her police career in Davao City  until she won the plum police post in Cebu City Police Office when Duterte became president. She later opted for voluntary retirement in the PNP to pave the way for her appointment to the juicy post of general manager in the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

Garma alleged in her testimonies that as designated point man of the national drug war, Leonardo conducted briefings for members of the PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Group), IG (intelligence groups), and PNP top officials led by then PNP director general Dela Rosa. She said she and Leonardo were then coordinating mostly with Go, the Palace official known to be closest to Duterte. 

The drug war, according to Garma, was a well-funded operation under Leonardo and Go. Its surveillance, implementation and reward payment received substantial funding from a still mysterious source.

The monetary reward, ranging from PHP20,000 to PHP1-million, would be for every drug war casualty. “There were certain amounts given from what I understand, starting PHP20,000 to PHP1 million but I am not familiar with the bracketing,” Garma said during her tearful revelation.

ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

FilAm bus operator killed by co-worker in San Jose over gambling debt

Next Post

Co-defendant strikes deal with FBI in Quiboloy case

Related Posts

Lawyers debate after Court of Appeals invalidates De Lima’s acquittal
News

Palace asks Roque to return after arrest warrant is issued

May 22, 2025
Lawyers debate after Court of Appeals invalidates De Lima’s acquittal
News

Lawyers debate after Court of Appeals invalidates De Lima’s acquittal

May 22, 2025
Deeper probe on Chinese involvement in PH troll farms sought
News

Deeper probe on Chinese involvement in PH troll farms sought

May 10, 2025
Next Post
Co-defendant strikes deal with FBI in Quiboloy case

Co-defendant strikes deal with FBI in Quiboloy case

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Recent News

Lawyers debate after Court of Appeals invalidates De Lima’s acquittal
News

Lawyers debate after Court of Appeals invalidates De Lima’s acquittal

by Ver Bermudez
May 22, 2025
0

Lawyers are split after the shock ruling by the Court of Appeals (CA) to invalidate the acquittal of former senator...

New book shines light on how disabled entrepreneurs are redefining success in business

May 22, 2025
Richard Rodriguez on Pope Francis, the Church and the ‘moral laziness’ of America

US travel detentions: Who’s safe?

May 22, 2025
Richard Rodriguez on Pope Francis, the Church and the ‘moral laziness’ of America

Against Federal immigration rollbacks, Asian advocates rally in Sacramento

May 22, 2025
Richard Rodriguez on Pope Francis, the Church and the ‘moral laziness’ of America

Birthright citizenship Supreme Court challenge highlights fraught history

May 22, 2025
The Filipino American Post

© 2025
THE FILIPINO AMERICAN POST

Navigate Site

  • About
  • Contact Us

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • NEWS
    • PH News
    • World News
  • COMMUNITY
  • EVENTS
  • ENTERTAINMENT
  • SPORTS
  • OPINION
  • LIFESTYLE
    • Business
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Travel
    • Arts & Culture
  • ONLINE NEWSPAPER

© 2025
THE FILIPINO AMERICAN POST