MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has accepted the resignation of National Police Commission (Napolcom) commissioner Edilberto Leonardo, Malacañang Palace said on Monday.
According to the Presidential Communications Office, the acceptance was stated in a letter signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and addressed to Department of Interior and Local Government secretary Jonvic Remulla.
Leonardo resigned from his post on October 4 after his name was dragged to the murder of former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga.
Leonardo, a former Criminal and Investigation Detection Group (CIDG) chief who was appointed Napolcom commissioner representing the Law Enforcement Sector, denied his involvement in the killings.
Aside from the Barayuga murder, Leonardo was also linked to killings during former President Rodrigo Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs.
Retired Police Colonel Royina Garma said during the House of Representatives Quadcom committee hearing that she recommended Leonardo to former President Rodrigo Duterte as a police officer to form a taskforce against illegal drugs.
That taskforce was allegedly based on the “Davao Model” of quotas and rewards for the deaths of drug personalities.
Garma said Leonardo has also asked her to join the taskforce, but said she had declined “citing my lack of experience in handling such operations.”/PN
