RPPe 2 INMATES TESTIFY ON 2016 KILLINGS OF 3 CHINESE DRUG LORDS; ROQUE CITED IN CONTEMPT

During the House of Representatives' second quad-committee public hearing on Thursday, two inmates testified and provided detailed accounts of their involvement in the killings of three Chinese drug lords inside the Davao Prison and Penal Farm (DPPF).

Inmates Leopoldo Tan Jr. and Fernando Magdadaro testified before the panel, admitting they stabbed convicted drug lords Chu Kin Tung, Li Lan Yan and Wong Meng Pin inside the Davao prison in 2016, following orders from SPO4 Arthur Narsolis.

During the interpellation of Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro, Magdadaro assured the committee of his full understanding of the ongoing investigation into extrajudicial killings (EJKs) linked to the drug war. 

He also acknowledged that the killings of the Chinese drug lords were part of EJKs that are under investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC), implicating former President Rodrigo Duterte.

According to him, he agreed to undertake the act for "isang manok" or P1 million per head and their freedom. 

Luistro manifested that the crime of murder under Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code had been established, citing evident premeditation and the involvement of monetary incentives. 

"Two qualifying circumstances are present. One is evident pre-meditation. Pinagplanuhan ang pagpatay. Second, killing was done in consideration of prize, reward or pledge. Ang pagpatay ay dahil sa binayad na pera at ipinangakong kalayaan," she said. 

She also raised the possibility of the incident being a crime against humanity under Article 7 of the Rome Statute, if evidence supports that such activities were conducted widespread against civilians. 

Luistro highlighted key affidavit points, including an order to kill and the victims' involvement in illegal drugs. She also urged the members of the quad committee and the 19th Congress to unite in condemning and fighting extrajudicial killings.

Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Ty Pimentel concluded that the systematic killing of Chinese drug lords in various detention centers was a component of the previous administration's drug war. 

To prove his point, he urged the quad-comm to get from the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) the list of the other 29 detained Chinese drug lords who were ordered to be killed.

"To be more specific Mr. Chair, iyong mga namatay na Chinese nationals that were charged for drug trafficking or drug smuggling from the time of July 2016, pag-upo ng bagong administrasyon hanggang doon sa 2017. Para makita po natin ang ‘ika ngang pattern or systematic killing of the Chinese drug lords to prove indeed that during the previous administration, there were extrajudicial killings, Mr. Chair," he stated.

Additionally, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. requested that the committee extend an invitation to former President Duterte to provide his perspective on the allegations against him. 

BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang consented to the quad committee's motion to confine Magdadaro and Tan within the HRep premises for their security.

Meanwhile, former spokesperson Atty. Harry Roque was cited in contempt by the quad committee. 

Kabayan Party-list Rep. Ron Salo moved to cite Roque in contempt for allegedly lying before the committee in his failure to attend the first quad committee hearing last Aug. 16, 2024 in Pampanga.

Salo, his former party-list colleague, presented a document from the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) confirming that Roque had no hearings scheduled for August 16, and did not appear in Manila's courts on that date.

In response, Roque apologized for the oversight and explained his absence from the hearing, stating that it was an honest mistake.

He further stated that by the time he realized the hearing was scheduled for a Friday rather than a Thursday, it was nearly midday and the location was in Pampanga. 

"It was an honest mistake your Honor. I've also been a member of this chamber, we don't hold hearings on Fridays. So when I saw the notice of hearing, I assumed that just like the first and second hearing where I attended, that it would be on a Thursday. And that is true that I had a hearing both in the morning and in the afternoon. And that is why I sent that letter," he said

Salo moved that Roque be detained in the House detention facility for the minimum penalty of 24 hours. 

The House Committees on Dangerous Drugs chaired by Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers; Public Accounts chaired by Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano; Public Order and Safety chaired by Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez; and Human Rights chaired by Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr., are currently conducting a joint investigation, in aid of legislation, into the possible connection of the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), illegal drugs, extrajudicial killings (EJKs) and human rights violations during the previous administration's drug war.