Eduardo Acierto (Screenshot from Facebook live)

Dismissed Philippine National Police (PNP) Colonel Eduardo Acierto claimed before the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs that Rodrigo Duterte had ordered his execution due to what he knows about the ex-president. 

Wednesday, July 10 was the first time that the controversial Acierto testified before the House of Representatives. 

He only did so via Zoom while the solons led by panel chairman Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers were physically present at Batasang Pambansa Complex. 

Acierto accused Duterte of wanting him killed supposedly because of his knowledge of the latter's links with Michael Yang and other individuals involved in illegal drug activities. 

“Ako din po ang parehong Police Colonel Eduardo Acierto na matagal nang pinapahanap at pinapapatay ng dating pangulong Duterte sa militar at kapwa ko police,” he said. 

(I am the same Police Colonel Eduardo Acierto that former Duterte had long ordered to be executed at the hands of the military and my fellow police.) 

Acierto, implicated in drug smuggling, has been in hiding since 2019. 

Chinese businessman Yang is a former economic adviser of Duterte’s. The Barbers panel also wants to get hold of Yang, if only to help shed light on his alleged involvement in a P3.6-billion drug bust in Mexico, Pampanga last year. 

Acierto, who used to be part of the PNP's Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG), told the committee that the threats to his life have persisted. “Matagal na akong natatakot para sa aking buhay dahil ako ay pinapapatay ni Duterte. Sila po ay maimpluensya hanggang ngayon." 

(I have long been fearing for my life because Duterte wants me dead. They are influential even now.) 

He went on to make a bold claim about the former president and his allies--specifically his former special assistant and now Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, and then-PNP chief and now Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa--during his presentation to the Barbers panel. 

"Therefore, Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Bong Go, and Bato dela Rosa are protecting and are integral to the security of the illegal drugs network operating in the country,” Acierto declared. 

Acierto told the congressmen that he knew of Yang's alleged hand in illegal drugs as early as 2017. This was the year Duterte assumed the Palace seat. "Sinabi ko na ito dati. Ako ay nalulungkot kasi umabot ng ilan taon bago ko mailahad ang aking panig." 

(I've said this before. It saddens me that it took years before I could air my side.) 

He said Duterte, Go, and Dela Rosa ignored his intelligence report on Yang. 

Acierto also faulted former senator Richard Gordon, then-chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, for allegedly siding with the Duterte administration with regard to Yang. 

"Pero imbis na ako ang pakinggan, itinago lang aking report at hindi isinapubliko. At ako pa ang pinalabas na protektor ng droga sa report ng Senate Blue Ribbon [Committee]. Hindi sila nakinig sakin kung ano man ang dahilan niya dahil sa pagsipsip niya noon kay Duterte," he said. 

(But instead of listening to me, ,my report was hidden and kept from the public. And the report of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee made it appear that I was the protector of drugs. For whatever reason, he didn't listen to me and instead sided with Duterte.) 

Barbers later approved a motion to invite Gordon to attend the next hearing.