MANILA: Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Marbil on Sunday urged former PNP chiefs to disclose their involvement in operations during the past administration’s contentious drug war. This call for transparency follows explosive allegations made by retired police official and former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office chief Royina Garma, who claimed that former president Rodrigo Duterte orchestrated a campaign that led to extrajudicial killings of drug suspects.
According to Philippines News Agency, Marbil emphasized the importance of accountability and human rights in the PNP’s current operations. “We take these allegations very seriously. We will thoroughly investigate Garma’s claims to ensure accountability and transparency within our ranks,” Marbil stated. He further noted that restoring public trust in the PNP was crucial, especially in light of the agency’s newly recalibrated anti-drug campaign that prioritizes human rights.
Garma, in her testimony at the House of Representatives’ qua
d committee hearing on Friday, accused former PNP chiefs of being aware of covert operations that replicated the Davao City model of executing drug lords. This model allegedly involved a rewards system to eliminate drug suspects, a claim immediately denied by Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, Duterte’s first PNP chief. “I did not engage in a reward system because I had no funds for that,” Dela Rosa responded, asserting his commitment to drug-free communities was part of his duty, not a paid transaction.
Garma’s sworn affidavit also implicated then-colonel Edilberto Leonardo as a key figure in implementing the alleged scheme. Following these allegations, Leonardo resigned from his post as National Police Commission commissioner. Marbil reiterated the PNP’s commitment to human rights and accountability, emphasizing the need to uphold justice and restore faith in law enforcement. “We must work diligently to regain the trust of the people and ensure that law enforcement operates within the bounds of the law,” he added.
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n a related development, Senator Christopher Go defended the former president, reminding the public of Duterte’s primary platform of combating illegal drugs and crime, which led to his landslide election victory. Go clarified that Duterte always respected the rule of law and denied any involvement in police operations or the financial management of the Office of the President during his time as Duterte’s Special Assistant.