The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will wait for the final report of the Quad-Committee of the House of Representatives before taking any action in relation to the allegation of the existence of a reward system in the Philippine National Police (PNP) of the past administration’s drug war.
DILG Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla explained that the revelations of tired police colonel and former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Royima Garma appeared to be not yet complete and that the Quad-Comm is still conducting its investigation.
“We have to wait until the full revelations are announced. I think pretty soon there will be corroborative testimonies that will abound. But again, let us wait until the final hearing and final recommendations of the Quad-Comm are done and then subsequent actions will be taken,” said Remulla.
Remulla, however, said there are some steps that are already being undertaken by the PNP, including the investigation into the cold cases involving the killing of those who are allegedly in the drug watchlist of the past administration.
One of them was that of retired police general Wesley Barayuga who was gunned down in 2020 while he was then the PCSO board secretary. It was Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza who disclosed that he was ordered by Garma and former police colonel Edilberto Leonardo to kill Barayuga.
“I think with their testimonies some of the cold cases are now being reopened but in advance of what she (Garma) said, that is a developing matter which we have to wait until the full testimonies are given,” said Remulla.
For his part, PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil said he already formed a committee to investigate all the allegations made by Garma relating to extra-judicial killing and the reward system.
The probe, he said, includes the revelation of Garma that former PNP chiefs were briefed about the reward system.
“We asked the former (PNP) chiefs to give a statement because it’s already stated by colonel Garma, so we have to take their statements and see something about it so that we know where we start in the investigation,” said Marbil.
“We just wait for the final output ng congressional hearing so we can really fully focus on our investigation,” he added.
Remulla said that they will go to the full extent of the law to make sure that justice is done in connection with the revelations of Garma.
“But again I must caution you, the testimonies are not over yet so as far as I am concerned we will wait until all the testimonies are in. "We will wait until the appropriate actions are done but initial work is already being conducted but only to that extent we will until Congress is finished and we will act on it,” said Remulla.