MANILA – A policeman who previously worked as bodyguard and driver of former President Rodrigo Duterte denied involvement in the supposed reward system of the previous administration’s war on drugs.
SPO4 Sanson “Sonny” Buenaventura denied the allegations hurled against him by retired Police Colonel and former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Royina Garma.
“Sa mga sinasabi nila at lahat ng akusasyon idinawit nila sa akin, walang katotohanan lahat ng ‘yun,” Buenaventura said during his appearance before the House of Representatives’ Quad Committee hearing on Thursday night.
Garma said during the previous hearing that she got P20,000 from Buenaventura after one operation, while he was also linked by self-confessed hitmen Arturo Lascañas and Edgar Matobato.
Buenaventura also said the issues hurled at Garma, including the missing money from PCSO, hiring her relatives at PCSO and other issues discovered in the Quad Comm hearings, are the reason why she is passing the blame to him.
“Inakusahan niya [Garma] ako na nagbibigay ng reward money for EJK [extrajudicial killing] para ilihis lang yung imbestigasyon laban sa kanya,” Buenaventura said.
“Para mas maging kapani-paniwala, sinabi niya nakatanggap siya sa akin ng tatlong beses na reward money para sa EJK,” he added. “Garma should not accuse anybody to save herself. She has to prove every accusation she makes with evidence.”
“Wala at hindi kasama ang pangalan niya sa lahat ng kinasasangkutan niyang issue. Iniwas niya ang sarili niya sa imbestigasyon. Gawa-gawa lang niya lahat para makaiwas siya na mabibigat na issues laban sa kanya at kinasasangkutan niya,” Buenaventura said.
Buenaventura was also questioned on the existence of the Davao Death Squad after his name floated as among the group’s members, but he denied it.
“Yun sabi sa newspaper, sa media… Narinig ko lang yan ma’am kasi ang nagbigay ng pangalan niyan is media… I did not deny, narinig ko lang, your honor,” Buenaventura said.
“Sa akin your honor, narinig ko lang. So kung nagsabi ang Presidente (dun sa Senate na may Davao Death Squad), narinig ko lang sa kanya ‘yun,” he added./PN
