No sacred cows in probe into PNP chiefs’ role in Duterte’s drug war —DILG's Remulla

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Monday said there are “no sacred cows” in the investigation into the alleged role of Philippine National Police (PNP) chiefs in the drug war under the Duterte administration.

“There are no sacred cows in this institution and in this investigation,” Remulla said in a press conference.

“Anyone who is guilty, anyone who is found guilty, anyone will be treated like any other person...they will be accorded no special treatment. They will be accorded no special privileges. Everyone will face the full consequence of the law and the full powers of the PNP and the institutions of the DILG,” he added.

He added his statement when PNP chief Police General Rommel Marbil was asked about the call for the country's former top cops to clarify their role in the drug war after ex-police officer and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Royina Garma's claim of a payment and rewards system for killing drug suspects.

Remulla said the DILG and the PNP will act on the matter once the congressional hearing on extrajudicial killings (EJK) is done.

Marbil said the police organization already asked concerned former PNP chiefs for their statements so they could start the investigation.

“Mayroon na po kami ng committee na (We already have a committee) to really investigate on allegations being made by Colonel Garma regarding EJK and other matters,” Marbil said.

With the testimonies, Remulla said several cold cases will be reopened.

“I think we have to wait till the full revelations are announced. I think pretty soon there will be corroborative testimonies that will abound,” Remulla said.

“I think with the testimony, some of the cold cases will be opened. But again, let us wait till the final hearings and final recommendations of QuadComm are done, and then subsequent actions will be taken,” he added.

Garma earlier said former president Rodrigo Duterte allegedly asked her to look for an officer who would implement the Davao model of the war on drugs on a national scale.

The model supposedly involved a P1 million reward for killing drug suspects.—LDF, GMA Integrated News