Bato has 'no idea' on Garma's drug war reward system claim

Senator Ronald “Bato” Delo Rosa on Saturday said he knows nothing about the supposed "reward system" in the killing of drug suspects during the previous administration. 

“I have no idea about that reward system,” Dela Rosa stated in response to former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Royina Garma's claims.

Garma, on Friday, claimed during a House inquiry that former president Rodrigo Duterte asked her when she was still a police official to look for an officer who would implement the Davao model. 

"This Davao Model referred to the system involving payments and rewards," Garma said.

Bato also maintained that he "cannot speculate" about her claims. 

“During my time as the chief PNP, I did not engage in a reward system because I had no funds for that. The only reward system in the pop is the DILG-approved list of the most wanted persons," Dela Rosa said.

"I did not believe in such a system because it is a sworn duty of every policeman to keep his area of responsibility free from drugs,” he added. 

According to Garma, the Davao model is a system involving three levels of payments and rewards. The reward if the suspect is killed, second is the funding of planned operations (or COPLANS), and third is the refund of operational expenses. 

The cash reward is said to range from P20,000 to P1 million. 

She also mentioned the names of Senator Christopher "Bong" Go and National Police Commission Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo, among those involved in the implementation of the campaign.

According to Manila 6th District Representative Benny Abante, the House human rights panel, which he chairs, previously sought Duterte to attend its hearing amid its probe into alleged EJKs during the latter’s presidency. However, Duterte wasn’t able to come. 

He added that Dela Rosa will also be invited as “he has to answer a lot of things.”

In the same QuadComm hearing, alleged drug lord Kerwin Espinosa accused Dela Rosa of pressuring him in 2016 to link former Senator Leila de Lima and businessman Peter Lim to the illegal drug trade. 

Dela Rosa was also previously invited by Abante’s human rights committee, but the senator declined, citing inter-parliamentary courtesy.

Abante said Dela Rosa “might just maintain” the same reason.

“Nire-respect naman namin iyon. Although kami naman, kapag ini-invite kami ng Senado, nagpupunta kami,” Abante added.

(We respect that. Although on our part, when the Senate invites us, we come.)]

Dela Rosa on Friday said that, if given the chance, he would punch Espinosa for lying.