Senior Superintendent Gerardo Padilla, Head of the Davao Penal and Prison Farm (DPPF), has firmly asserted that he does not personally know former President Rodrigo Duterte.
This statement was made during a hearing conducted by the House Quad Committee.
Questions regarding Padilla’s personal acquaintance with the former president were posed by several lawmakers, including Zambales 1st District Representative Jay Khonghun and Abang Lingkod Representative Joseph Stephen Paduano.
Representative Khonghun inquired whether Padilla had met the former president in person. Padilla responded that he had not yet had a personal encounter with Duterte, a declaration that provoked anger from Representative Paduano. Paduano claimed that evidence exists proving that Padilla and Duterte had met on several occasions.
Despite Padilla’s insistence on not personally knowing Duterte, the Quad Committee was compelled to present several personal photographs showing Padilla with the former president on multiple occasions.
It should be noted that Padilla was held in contempt for 30 days after he refused to testify during the third hearing of the House Quad Committee. He was temporarily detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City.