QUEZON City – A group of convicts killed three Chinese nationals inside the Davao Penal Colony upon instructions of people in power at the beginning of the Duterte administration.
The head of this conspiracy, or the mastermind, was no less than former President Rodrigo R. Duterte himself.
Leopoldo “Tata” Tan, Jr., currently serving time in prison on drug-related charges, testified before the Quadcomm, or four committees in Congress, that sometime in July 2016 he was approached by his high-school classmate SPO4 Arthur Narsolis of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) based in Davao City to discuss a “project,” which was to eliminate Chinese personalities Cho-kin Tong, Jackson Lee, and Peter Wang.
Tan confirmed his affidavit that SPO4 Narsolis told him that the targets were drug lords, and that the President was mad at them. Narsolis instructed him to look for a companion to implement the killing, in exchange for their freedom and one million pesos per successful kill.
Tan chose fellow Davao convict Fernando Magdadaro as his companion.
Magdadaro also testified in the hearing held at the House of Representatives Thursday morning.
He said he acceded to Tan’s offer to kill Cho-kin Tong, Jackson Lee, and Peter Wang on promises of freedom and monetary reward. He relied on Tan’s assurance that they would be released soon because their backers are highly placed people in government.
In the morning of August 10, 2016, Tan and Magdadaro surveilled the prison area where foreign convicts are segregated. They were able to identify the targets, but could not implement the project because of the segregation.
The next day, or on August 11, 2016, jail guards entered Tan’s and Magdadaro’s respective prison cells and planted sachets with shabu residue and transferred them to a “bartolina” or holding cell no. 6.
In the afternoon of August 13, 2016, the three Chinese targets were transferred to the same holding cell no. 6. Later that day, at around 8:00 PM, Tan and Magdadaro inflicted multiple stab wounds upon the Chinese personalities using the bladed weapons supplied by fellow convict Leo Pinkian.
After the killings, the perpetrators were immediately instructed by Bureau of Corrections Superintendent Gerardo Padilla to dispose of the bladed weapons used in the commission of the crime.
Tan further narrated that while on their way to the investigation section of the penal colony Supt. Padilla received a call from President Rodrigo Duterte who congratulated him for the successful implementation of the project. 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.
SPO4 Narsolis returned to see them four days later to say that the reward money, though lacking, has been transmitted for distribution to Tan and Magdadaro’s respective romantic partners.
Tan also identified Lt. Col. Royina Garma, then assigned at CIDG region 11, as having accompanied SPO4. Narsolis to see one Major Portaleza, also a convict serving time at the Davao penal farm. Portaleza was her classmate at the police academy. It was Portaleza who told Tan that they should not fail in their mission.
Tan said that he knows Narsolis is Garma’s romantic partner.
Garma was eventually transferred to head the Cebu City police office. After her stint in Cebu, Garma was appointed General Manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). Tan testified that Garma is among Duterte’s favorite police personnel.
Tan and Magdadaro were charged and convicted for homicide for the prison killing of the three Chinese personalities.
After Magdadaro’s testimony, Cong. Jinky Luistro remarked that his testimony, including his statement that they planned the killings with the promise of a monetary reward, qualified the killings to murder. A case for “crimes against humanity,” may be made out against the masterminds for the systematic killing of members of a specific sector of society.
Rep. Johnny Pimentel moved that former President Duterte be invited to the next hearing of the Quadcomm in the interest of fairness.
Also summoned was Col. Edilberto Leonardo who used to head CIDG-11. Duterte eventually appointed Leonardo to the National Police Commission. He was identified as a suspect in the latest issuance of the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Tan and Magdadaro will be detained in Congress for the remainder of the hearings./PN
