Edilberto Leonardo (left), former president Rodrigo Duterte (Quad-comm media, Malacañang photo)

Former National Police Commission (Napolcom) commissioner Edilberto Leonardo has attested to the truthfulness of House quad-committee (quad-comm) witness Royina Garma's testimonies, which heavily implicates ex-president Rodrigo Duterte in the cash reward-driven killings during the previous administration. 

Gaining this clear-cut admission from Leonardo at exactly Wednesday midnight, Oct. 23 was quad-comm co-chairman Manila 6th district Rep. Bienvenido "Benny" Abante Jr. 

"Ito na po ang question ko (Here's my question), and this will only be answerable by yes or no. I am not going to ask anymore explanation, Col. Leonardo, sagutin niyo lang ako ng yes or no (just answer me with either yes or no). 

"Doon sa dalawang affidavit ni Col. Garma na nabasa mo at napakinggan mo. ‘Yan ba ay pinapaniwalaan mo? Yes or no?" Abante asked Leonardo, who is said to be a trusted man of the former president. 

(You've read and heard the two affidavits of Col. Garma. Do you believe in those? Yes or no?) 

"Yes Mr. Chair," the resource person answered. 

"Pangalawang tanong (Second question), also answerable by yes or no. Naniniwala ka ba na merong rewards system? (Do you believe that there's a reward system?) Yes or no?" asked the pastor-preacher. 

"May narinig ako (I've heard of it)...Yes Mr. Chair," Leonardo replied. Abante promptly ended his questioning after this.
 

The quad-comm hearing--presided by overall chairman, Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers--began at past 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22. It is still ongoing as of this posting.

Garma, a retired police colonel like Leonardo, is the former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager who has linked Duterte to the bloody drug war like no one has ever done before. 

In her first affidavit before the quad-comm last Oct. 11, she accused Duterte of spearheading in May 2016 the nationwide expansion of the alleged "Davao model" wherein the killing of drug suspects was encouraged in exchange for cash. 

ALSO READ: 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/10/22/garma-gets-phone-call-from-duterte

Garma claimed that Duterte asked her for recommendations of a person from the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) who could implement the so-called mode on a nationwide scale; she recommended Leonardo, whom Duterte allegedly met afterward to plan the drug war. 

She went on to say that cash rewards for drug war kills under Duterte ranged from P20,000 for street-level suspects to P1 million for "chemists, traders, manufacturers, financiers, and ninja cops".   

In her supplemental affidavit that she executed on Tuesday, Garma admitted to receiving at least P40,000 in such reward money. 
 

Critics of the Duterte drug war have told the quad-comm that anywhere from 20,000 to over 30,000 people were slain during this period.

Asked by 1-Rider Party-list Rep. Bonifacio Bosita if he thought the cash reward system was abused by certain police officers who wanted to make money ("gustong kumita"), Leonardo said yes.

Unlike Garma who was an emotional wreck during her Oct. 11 testimony, wherein she first implicated Duterte, Leonardo appeared very calm Wednesday and was even able to have a meal during the hearing.

Garma has visibly lost weight since the quad-comm ordered her detention within the House of the Representatives. Leonardo is also detained in the House.