28-8-2024 (MANILA) A senior Philippine National Police (PNP) officer has come forward with explosive revelations about the controversial anti-drug campaign conducted during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration. Lt. Col. Jovie Espenido, known for his operations against so-called “narco-politicians”, confirmed the existence of a “quota and reward system” during testimony before a House quad committee on Wednesday.
Espenido, testifying at the third hearing of the committee investigating alleged extrajudicial killings, provided detailed insights into the mechanics of the system. “There were two aspects: quota and reward,” he explained. “The quota required police to conduct daily ‘tokhang’ operations, visiting 50 to 100 households of suspected drug personalities to persuade them to surrender for rehabilitation.”
The term “tokhang”, originally meaning “knock and plead”, became notorious as these operations often resulted in violent confrontations.
Regarding the reward system, Espenido disclosed that local government units provided monetary incentives, allegedly sourced from both legitimate and illegal gambling operations, including Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs). “In Ozamiz, Mayor Parojinog gave 100,000 pesos for each successful buy-bust operation. We received 600,000 pesos in total,” he stated.
When pressed further, Espenido revealed a darker interpretation of the system. “Police officers understood that there was a reward for killing those on the watch list, regardless of guilt or the authenticity of the buy-bust operation,” he admitted. The former officer confirmed his belief that this system was widely known and applied across PNP offices nationwide.
Espenido acknowledged that the system was ultimately abused. “Many were pleased because it targeted the source of drugs. But tragically, it often resulted in the deaths of victims – the pushers and users,” he said. “Innocent victims were sacrificed just to receive rewards. Those around President Duterte abused the system due to greed and money.”
The officer’s testimony included references to high-profile cases he was involved in, such as the death of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa in his jail cell in 2016, and the operation in Ozamiz City that resulted in the deaths of Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog and 15 others linked to illegal drugs.
This testimony contradicts previous denials by former PNP officials regarding the implementation of a “quota system”. Notably, both former President Duterte and Senator Bato dela Rosa, who served as PNP chief during the height of the drug war, have declined invitations to attend the probe.
