MANILA – Superintendent Gerardo F. Padilla, warden of the Davao Penal Colony during the Duterte administration, has retracted his earlier testimony at the House of Representatives disclaiming any official irregularity in the killing of three Chinese nationals while they were in his custody.
This time Padilla admitted having been put in tremendous pressure to implement an order to kill three Chinese nationals in detention on drug related charges at the beginning of the Duterte administration in July 2016.
As the House Quadcomm continued its hearings, Padilla affirmed a new affidavit alleging that Royina Garma, former Davao City deputy chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, pressured him to clear an “operation” that would cause the violent death of Cho-kin Tong, Jackson Lee, and Peter Wang.
Padilla claimed that these were Garma’s exact words: “May mga tao kami dyan na gagawa at wag mo na kwestyonin, and whether you like it or not we will operate and do not interfere, baka madamay pa pamilya mo. Mag-cooperate ka na lang or mananagot ka sa amin.”
Padilla admitted having succumbed to pressure, having heard of the prison liquidation that happened at the Leyte provincial jail a week earlier.
Rep. Johnny Pimentel called Garma the “executive producer” of the Davao prison killings.
Garma could not be reached for comment as of this writing.
Convicts Leopoldo Tan and Fernando Magdadaro had testified in Congress that on August 13, 2016, the three Chinese targets were transferred to their holding cell so they could stab them to death using bladed weapons supplied by a fellow convict.
They killed the Chinese inmates was upon the promise of money and liberty relayed to them by Tan’s high school classmate SPO4 Arthur Narsolis, also of the CIDG Davao City.
Pressed by Cong. Beienvenido Abante why he feared so much that he had to relent, Padilla admitted that former President Rodrigo Duterte was a much higher power and he had known Garma’s history as a high-ranking police officer in Davao City. He said Garma used to be a station commander and had a direct line to Duterte when the latter was mayor.
Padilla said he had opposed the transfer of the three Chinese inmates to the Davao penal colony because the prisoners had pending non-bailable cases before a trial court in Muntinlupa, but his opposition was ignored by the Bureau of Corrections director general.
He also confirmed that the Chinese inmates were safe in detention in a disciplinary facility in Dapecol but they were transferred to the holding cell of Tan and Magdadaro so that the plan to eliminate then could be implemented.
Padilla also named his shift commander Robert Quinto as the jail officer who caused the transfer after inspecting the separate cells of the Filipino and Chinese inmates. Quinto was gunned down outside his house in Panabo City in November 2016.
After Davao, Garma was transferred to head the Cebu City police office. Duterte subsequently appointed her General Manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. Tan also earlier testified that Garma is among Duterte’s favorite police personnel.
Tan also said that he heard Supt. Padilla take a call from Duterte who congratulated him for the successful implementation of the kill order. Tan recognized Duterte’ voice because Supt. Padilla turned his phone on speaker mode.
Tan said he heard the President say, “Congrats Supt. Padilla, job well done. Pero grabe ginawa, ginawang dinuguan.” Tan said that Padilla bragged to them that the President was happy with the result.
The House Quadcomm granted Padilla’s request for an executive session when he was about to be questioned on Duterte’s telephone call./PN
