Lawyers: Garma not coerced to testify on Duterte-era drug killings

The lawyers of retired police Colonel Royina Garma on Thursday said that their client freely gave her testimony to the House Quad Committee (QuadComm) on the drug war killings during the Duterte administration and Rodrigo Duterte’s term as Davao City mayor.

Garma’s lawyers, Emerito Quilang and Rotciv Cumigad, issued the statement in response to former Mandaluyong City Police chief Police Colonel Hector Grijaldo's claim that at least two co-chairpersons of the QuadComm directed him to confirm the existence of a reward system during the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

“As the witnesses present during the events described by Mr. Grijaldo during the Senate inquiry held last October 28, 2024, we feel compelled to address the recent claims made regarding the supposed coercion and manipulation of testimony involving Colonel Garma's affidavit. The discussions were focused on ensuring clarity and understanding of Colonel Garma's affidavit, particularly regarding any knowledge Colonel Grijaldo might have about the reward system mentioned in it,” the lawyers said.

“At no point did any of the congressman attempted to pressure Mr. Grijaldo into conforming to a predetermined narrative,” the lawyers added.

The dialogue, Garma’s counsels said, was primarily between Congressman Dan Fernandez of Santa Rosa, Laguna and Congressman Benny Abante of Manila, who were the only individuals actively speaking.

“Throughout the meeting, we can affirm that we did not witness any form of coercion or undue influence directed toward Mr. Grijaido. The discussions taking place were cordial and respectful,” the lawyers said.

“Congressman Dan Fernandez and Congressman Abante engaged in a dialogue that was both professional and focused on the matters at hand. At no point did we see or hear any actions or statements that could be interpreted as pressuring Mr. Grijaldo to conform to a specific narrative,” the lawyers added.

Garma earlier told the QuadComm that the nationwide police anti-drug war was patterned after the Davao model that rewards police officials per killed drug suspect.

Garma said that the reward ranged from P20,000 to P1 million per killing, and that there is a Davao Death Squad.

She said she also experienced being granted a monetary reward when she was assigned in Davao City when there was a thief who was killed in a police operation.

Earlier during Thursday’s QuadComm probe, lead QuadComm chair Robert Ace Barbers of Surigao del Norte said the QuadComm would never coerce resource persons for testimonies.

“In our past hearings, names were mentioned, admissions were made, witnesses and resource persons appeared, questioned, vetted and tested.  Forced admissions, in any way was never a part of QuadComm,” he said.

"We never put words in their mouths. Whatever testimonies and affidavits they presented before the Quadcomm were given by them freely and voluntarily. We may be accused of providing entertainment and likened to a gag show, but who is laughing?  On the contrary, the one who said that must be so full of himself that he didn’t notice that the joke was on him,” Barbers added. — BM, GMA Integrated News