Former PCSO General Manager Royina Garma revealed that the task force led by retired Police Colonel Edilberto Leonardo, based at the regional office of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Davao City, was the central hub for the reward system used during the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
In her sworn statement submitted to the House of Representatives’ Quad Committee, Garma explained how the reward system incentivized the killing of suspected drug personalities, leading police officers to opt for killing suspects rather than arresting them.
Garma, a retired police officer and a close associate of former President Rodrigo Duterte, disclosed that the controversial drug war was conducted under Duterte’s direct orders, with the involvement of his trusted allies, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go and Leonardo.
Leonardo, then the chief of CIDG Region 11, formed a group of trusted operatives to carry out drug war operations based on the so-called “Davao Model,” which rewarded police officers for killing suspected drug suspects rather than capturing them.
This group consisted of Rommel Bactat, Rodel Cerbo, Michael Palma, and Lester Berganio.
According to Garma, these operatives were tasked with gathering intelligence on drug suspects and reporting on arrests and killings.
These reports were handled by Berganio, who maintained a detailed list of individuals involved in drug activities across the country.
The information was submitted to Leonardo, who determined the level of operations and the corresponding reward amount.
During the hearing on Friday, Garma testified that while she did not know the exact reward amounts, they ranged from P20,000 to P1 million, depending on the target.
A key part of Garma’s testimony centered on the financial operations supporting the task force led by Leonardo.
She revealed that Peter Parungo, a former convict imprisoned for rape, managed the financial transactions related to the task force.
All funds for COPLAN, operational reimbursements, and rewards for agents were processed through Parungo’s accounts in major Philippine banks.
In her sworn statement, Garma also disclosed that Leonardo had complete control over the list of drug personalities targeted by the task force.
Meanwhile, Napolcom Vice Chair Alberto Bernardo informed the Quad Committee during Friday’s hearing that Leonardo had resigned as Napolcom commissioner amid the ongoing investigation into extrajudicial killings.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has accepted Leonardo’s resignation.