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‘HIGHER AUTHORITY’

September 5, 2024 Jester P. Manalastas 194 views

THE former warden of the Davao Prison and Penal Farm (DPPF) recanted his previous statements and alleged that former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte may have orchestrated the killings of three Chinese drug lords in 2016.

Testifying before the House Quad Committee, Supt. Gerardo Padilla has confirmed a conversation with then-CIDG officer Royina Garma regarding the murders, implying that Garma was acting under orders from a higher authority — hinting at the involvement of Duterte.

In the hearing, Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. questioned Padilla about whether the pressure came solely from Garma or someone higher.

Padilla has acknowledged there was a “bigger person” behind Garma’s orders, and though he hesitated to directly implicate Duterte, he agreed that Garma was acting under the control of a more powerful figure.

“Hindi ko naman ini-implicate pero hawak po sila ng mas mataas,” Padilla said.

Abante further clarified if the “higher person” was Duterte, to which Padilla replied: “Yes, your honor.”

Later the Quad Comm held an executive session.

In his testimony, Padilla also recanted earlier denials, implicating Garma in the killings of Chu Kin Tung, Li Lan Yan, and Wong Meng Pin, aligning his new affidavit with earlier witness testimonies that connected Duterte to the events.

Abante concluded by clarifying that Padilla believed Garma was following orders from someone more powerful, likely Duterte.

“Ibig sabihin, hawak po si Chief Garma ng mas mataas. At ang mas mataas diyan ay ang dating Pangulo. Tama ho ba ako?” Abante asked. Padilla replied, “Yes, your honor.”

Padilla, currently detained for 30 days by the House Quad Committee for contempt, retracted his earlier denial of involvement in the killings of Chu Kin Tung, also known as Tony Lim; Li Lan Yan, also known as Jackson Li; and Wong Meng Pin, also known as Wang Ming Ping.

Self-confessed hitmen Leopoldo “Tata” Tan Jr. and Fernando “Andy” Magdadaro had earlier testified before the Quad Committee, admitting they killed the three Chinese nationals on the alleged orders of former President Duterte.

In his testimony, Tan claimed that after the killings, he overheard Padilla receiving a congratulatory phone call presumably from Duterte, praising him for a job well done.

Padilla denied this during the August 28 quad committee hearing, but in his latest affidavit, he directly implicated Garma in the murders.

He recalled that sometime between 2015 and 2016, when he was acting superintendent of the DPPF, Garma called him using the cellphone of an inmate, Jimmy Fortaleza, and instructed him not to interfere with an operation about to take place inside the facility.

“Prior to such killings, I have been subjected to an intense pressure by then CIDG Officer Royina Garma who called me up through the cellphone of another inmate Jimmy Fortaleza,” Padilla said.

“Chief Garma told me ‘may mga tao kami dyan na gagawa at huwag mo na kwestiyonin, and whether you like it or not we will operate and do not interfere, baka madamay pa pamilya mo.’ She added that ‘mag cooperate ka na lang or mananagot ka sa amin,’” he continued.

Padilla said Garma’s call left him feeling threatened, as he was aware of a similar operation carried out against a drug lord in Leyte days earlier.

Fearing for his safety, Padilla said he decided not to interfere with the killings of the three suspected Chinese drug lords.

“Because of the call of CIDG Garma, I became wary of my safety and I began to observe the personnel of DPPF who among them were the people referred to by CIDG Garma,” he said.

“Although I have not personally met CIDG Garma, I knew the one I talked with was Garma because inmate Jimmy Fortaleza told me Garma wants to talk to me and thereafter handed over to me his cellular phone,” he added.