At the 8th Quad Committee hearing, former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office manager Royina Garma revealed that ex-President Rodrigo Duterte masterminded a nationwide campaign of extrajudicial killings, patterned after the “Davao model.” Garma described how Duterte aimed to create a system that rewarded police officers with cash for killing drug suspects.
“During our meeting, he wanted me to find a police officer who was part of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, showing his need for someone loyal to carry out his plans,” Garma said.
Garma explained a payment structure, saying “The Davao Model involves three types of payments. First, a reward for killing a suspect. Second, funding for planned operations. Third, a refund for expenses.” This means that murder was incentivized with taxpayers’ money.
Her testimony also pointed to powerful allies, like Senator Christopher “Bong” Go and National Police Commission commissioner Edilberto Leonardo, who helped carry out the deadly operation. “Only killings received rewards; arrests got funding for operations and expense refunds,” she stated, highlighting the morally corrupt incentives of Duterte’s drug war.
Adding to the controversy, Salvador Panelo, Duterte’s former chief legal counsel, confirmed the use of intelligence funds in the bloody drug war. On DWAR Abante Radyo, Panelo tried to downplay Garma’s claims, insisting that police don’t need extra money to do their jobs. Panelo claimed these funds were used to fight drug syndicates.
Ex-cop Col. Eduardo Acierto also confirmed that it is “an open secret” that the funds used to finance the drug war were misappropriated from the Office of the President’s intelligence budget.
During Garma’s testimony, her deep emotion was evident, prompting Senior Deputy Speaker Dong Gonzales to question whether she felt pressured. She firmly said, “It took me a week to reflect. I realized that the truth will always set us free.”
The recent revelations complete the picture and underscores the severe abuse of power during the past administration of Duterte, where taxpayers’ money intended for intelligence operations were diverted to fuel a violent campaign against alleged drug offenders.
