‘REWARD? IT’S TRUE’
“REWARD? Correct. Very correct. Talagang totoo. At minsan bigyan ko pa dagdag.”
This was the confirmation of former President Rodrigo Duterte on the reported reward system that existed for police officers involved in his administration’s aggressive anti-drug campaign.
Duterte made the confirmation before the House Quad Comm when asked by Kabataan Party-list Representative Raoul Manuel.
He openly admitted that monetary incentives were provided to law enforcement personnel who participated in drug war missions.
It can be recalled that former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Royina Garma, a retired police colonel close to Duterte, earlier told the Quad Comm about a reward system patterned after the “Davao Model,” which included the notorious Davao Death Squad.
She revealed that Duterte instructed former National Police Commission Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo to implement this model nationwide to incentivize police in targeting drug suspects.
Leonardo corroborated Garma’s statements, while Lt. Col. Jovie Espenido—widely regarded as the previous administration’s “poster boy” for the war on drugs—first disclosed the reward system to the Quad Comm, detailing that funds came from jueteng, POGOs, intelligence funds and the PCSO’s small-town lottery.
Espenido said the money allegedly “flowed from the level of Bong Go,” referring to Duterte’s long-time aide, now Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go.
In admitting the reward system, Duterte said the financial support extended to police officers involved in the drug war was sometimes essential for missions that lacked formal budget allocations.
“If there is an operation which is not funded by the police, you have to provide,” Duterte told Manuel, recounting his personal allocations for expenses like gasoline and food.
“I sometimes gave extra as a reward,” he stated, adding that these funds could amount to P20,000 for certain operations.
The lawmaker also inquired from Duterte about alias “Muking” and why she was reportedly distributing money to police officers.
Duterte confirmed Muking was previously with the Presidential Management Staff (PMS).
“Mr. Chair, bakit kinakailangan na isang [PMS] ang tagabigay ng pera? Saan po ba nagagaling ang pera na siyang ginagamit para sa reward system?” Manuel asked.
Muking, whose real name is Irmina Espino, was identified by Garma as a staffer of Sen. Go.
According to Garma, Espino played a crucial role in the financial operations behind the drug war, handling transactions tied to the reward system that incentivized police officers to kill individuals on Duterte’s drug watchlist.
Espino was previously reported to have worked in Go’s office at Davao City Hall during Duterte’s tenure as mayor, later continuing with him at Malacañang as an assistant secretary when Go became Special Assistant to the President. She later served as undersecretary until Duterte’s term ended in 2022.
Manuel continued to delve into the origins of the drug war funds, suggesting it came from the intelligence funds allocated for the Office of the President.
“The Peace and Order Fund, sa mga local government units natin, ‘yan po ay kinukuha mula sa confidential fund,” Manuel said.
Manuel underscored that the confidential nature of these funds shielded them from public scrutiny and accountability.
Duterte appeared evasive, pointing out that confidential funds are classified by law and intended to protect state security interests.
“Kaya tinawag ‘yan, Sir, ng intelligence fund na confidential. Kaya huwag kang magtanong kung anong confidential ginawa ko,” Duterte replied.
His remarks, however, did not address Manuel’s underlying question regarding the accountability of these rewards and the potential misuse of public funds.
The former president’s confirmation of a reward system has reignited concerns over the drug war’s accountability.
