MANILA – A dismissed policeman claimed he was being forced by members of the House of Representatives’ Quad Committee to confirm the so-called reward system during the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
According to former Mandaluyong City police chief Police Colonel Hector Grijaldo, he was being forced by Santa Rosa, Laguna’s Cong. Dan Fernandez and Manila’s Cong. Benny Abante to confirm the reward system despite not personally knowing it.
Grijaldo added that he was forced to speak out about the reward system to corroborate the statement made by his former Philippine National Police Academy classmate Royina Garma.
Grijaldo told the Senate blue ribbon committee that Fernandez called him inside a room along with Abante and Garma’s lawyers on October 22 to sign a prepared testimony.
“When I entered the room, I saw two lawyers of Police Colonel Garma, standing inside the room. One of the lawyers approached me and then asked me, ‘What are we going to talk about?’ I said, ‘I do not know,’” Grijaldo said.
“After a while, Cong. Dan Fernandez entered the room and he asked me to sit beside him on his right side and Cong. Abante entered the room, sat far…Cong. Dan Fernandez put the paper he was holding on the table and told me, ‘Ito ang sasabihin mong statement na ito”, while pointing on the paragraph on the paper, ‘Ito ang supplemental affidavit ni Colonel Garma, sabihin mong alam mo ang reward system. I-confirm mo lang,’” he added.
“Cong. Dan told me to read the said affidavit. However, I asked for the copy of the affidavit he was showing to me. He did not give it to me. The lawyer of police colonel Garma said, ‘Ikaw lang ang pwedeng magsabi niyan sabi ni Col. Garma. I was puzzled and asked myself, ‘Why me?’…We went silent for a while.”
Garma earlier told the QuadComm that there was a cash reward paid per killing in the Duterte administration’s war on drugs ranging from P20,000 to P1 million.
Further, Grijaldo said Abante was trying to persuade him to do their directive. But he said that he personally did not experience receiving any form of rewards when he was still the Mandaluyong City Police chief.
“I served as chief of police in Mandaluyong during the COVID-19 pandemic and there were less crimes committed. And we did not receive any reward from anyone,” Grijaldo said. “I added that we only received funds, additional MOA or support fund. And I have no personal knowledge as to the reward system.”
“It’s harassment and very offensive, Your Honor…..At that time, I was wearing my uniform,” he added. “Parang gusto nilang magsisinungaling ako, your honor.”
Fernandez and Abante, however, both denied the allegations of Grijaldo as they claimed that they did not force him to admit the reward system after he said that he does not have knowledge about it./PN
