The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has been ordered by the House of Representatives’ Quad Committee to investigate the killing of three Chinese nationals imprisoned in Davao City in 2016.
The incident has been linked to former President Rodrigo Duterte and several active and retired Philippine National Police (PNP) officials.
During a recent hearing, Antipolo City Representative Romeo Acop moved for the committee to mandate the NBI to conduct a thorough investigation and file charges against those responsible for the deaths of Chu Kin Tung, Li Lan Yan, and Wong Meng Pin inside the Davao Prison and Penal Farm (DPPF). The operation was allegedly ordered by former Police Colonel Royina Garma, also a former general manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
The motion was approved by Quad Committee overall chair and Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers.
In previous hearings, persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) Leopoldo Tan Jr. and Fernando “Andy” Magdadaro testified that they killed the three Chinese nationals under the orders of SPO4 Arthur Narsolis. Tan and Narsolis were reportedly high school classmates.
Another PDL, Jimmy Fortaleza, a former police officer and classmate of Garma at the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA), was tasked to assist Tan and Magdadaro in carrying out the killings.
Former DPPF warden Senior Superintendent Gerardo Padilla claimed that Duterte called him to congratulate him on the killing of the three Chinese drug lords.
Padilla also stated that Garma told him not to interfere with their operation inside the prison, referring to the killings.
The committee is now seeking the call and text message records between Fortaleza and Garma, who was formerly assigned to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Davao City.
Garma has denied the allegations against her. Due to her alleged refusal to answer questions and for lying, Garma was cited in contempt during the hearing last Thursday and was detained at the House of Representatives’ detention center.