Truth Commission seeks probe into ‘drug war’ rewards

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — A Philippine National Police (PNP) non-uniformed personnel recalls a tense meeting over eight years ago between key police officials in Northern Mindanao and then-PNP chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.

“I remember when Sir Bato visited here in 2018; he was so mad that there were only a few drug suspects killed in anti-drug operations,” the personnel told the Inquirer in a recent interview.

He asked to remain anonymous as, until now, he fears a potential backlash about going public with “insider accounts” relating to the controversial drug war under the administration of then-President Rodrigo Duterte when Dela Rosa was its first chief implementer.

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READ: Truth Commission to Marcos: Continue serving ICC arrest ordersThe personnel said he was among those on the sidelines at the high-level meeting during which Dela Rosa “reminded us that there is a ‘quota’ for each region.” 

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The bloodshed here started early. On July 10, 2016, just days after Oplan Tokhang was launched, unidentified assailants fatally shot 33-year-old White Jack Sigla and 37-year-old Sammy Dagus in the head in Barangay Puerto.Just a day before the killing, one of the victims had surrendered to the police and taken an oath to stop selling illegal drugs.

De la Rosa, now a senator, is in hiding after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant for his arrest over the drug killings that have now placed Duterte on trial in The Hague, Netherlands.

READ: ICC rejects Duterte bid to put cap on prosecution evidence

On Wednesday, the Philippine Truth Commission urged the government to launch an independent inquiry into police commanders who allegedly secured higher ranks, powerful posts, and cash payouts after being linked to killings during Duterte’s brutal “war on drugs.”An analysis of public records by the commission revealed a disturbing pattern: officers overseeing jurisdictions with high death tolls were often rewarded with career advancement rather than subjected to scrutiny.“Any inquiry must look at promotions as closely as it looks at cash payments,” Dr. Christopher Magno, the commission’s executive director, said in an emailed advisory on Wednesday. “No police officer should gain in any way from the blood of people killed outside the law.”The commission highlighted several officials whose careers flourished despite massive casualties under their watch.Among them was Lito Patay, who commanded the Batasan police station in Quezon City when its officers killed 108 people in drug operations between July 2016 and June 2017. He was named chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Central Luzon just months later.

READ: Truth Commission starts hearing drug war casesThe same career trajectories were seen in Caloocan City. Commission records show 105 killings occurred during the seven-month stint of city police commander Chito Bersaluna in 2017.Though relieved from his post following the highly publicized murder of 17-year-old Kian delos Santos, Bersaluna was later named Bulacan provincial police director and eventually promoted to brigadier general.Roberto Fajardo, who oversaw Caloocan as Northern Police District chief, was also removed after the teenager’s death — only to be appointed head of the Highway Patrol Group the following year.Beyond rank, the commission pointed to a monetary reward system and promises of blanket protection.Presidential backing effectively eliminated the fear of punishment among the ranks. In 2017, Duterte publicly promised to pardon and promote the police officers charged in the killing of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa.Their commander, Marvin Marcos, was subsequently returned to duty and given a regional investigative post.Financial incentives also allegedly fueled the killings. Retired police colonel Royina Garma had testified before a House committee about a nationwide implementation of the “Davao model” that funded operations and rewarded deaths with payouts ranging from P20,000 to P1 million.The Truth Commission is now demanding that investigators follow the money, urging the government to cross-reference each drug war death with police reports, financial records, and promotion recommendations to see exactly who signed off on the rewards.“Victims’ families deserve an investigation that reaches the officials who ordered the operations and those who rewarded them, with cash or with promotions,” Magno said. “Police careers should rest on protecting life and securing justice.” /coa