19-10-2024 (MANILA) Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has vehemently denied the existence of a reward system for police officers who killed drug suspects during his administration’s controversial war on drugs. This denial comes in the wake of explosive allegations made by Royina Garma, the former chief of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, to a House Quad Committee.
Garma’s affidavit, which has sent shockwaves through Philippine politics, detailed a purported cash reward system for extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during Duterte’s tenure. She alleged the implementation of a national task force modelled after the “Davao Model”, which reportedly provided financial incentives to police for killing drug suspects, alongside funding for planned operations and expense reimbursements.
In a forceful rebuttal aired on Sonshine Media News International (SMNI), Duterte dismissed these claims outright. “No police officer would engage in such activities. They would be imprisoned. Why would they accept an agreement that would lead to their downfall? There were no rewards. I never gave rewards,” he asserted.
The former president further maintained that he never issued orders for extrajudicial killings of individuals involved in the drug trade. Clarifying his stance, Duterte stated, “My actual order to them was this: Find and arrest them wherever they are. Bring them to me, but if they resist and you feel your life is in danger, kill them. I don’t want to see my police officers die instead of criminals.”
Amidst the swirling controversy, Duterte has expressed his willingness to face investigative panels probing the alleged summary killings. “I would be happy to appear in both the upper and lower houses of Congress,” he declared, suggesting that he should be the primary focus of any inquiry rather than involving others unnecessarily.
The allegations and Duterte’s subsequent denial come at a time when the International Criminal Court (ICC) is actively investigating claims of human rights abuses committed during his administration’s drug war. Official data from the Philippines reports that over 6,000 people were killed in anti-drug operations under Duterte’s presidency, though ICC prosecutors estimate the death toll could be significantly higher, ranging between 12,000 and 30,000.
