PNP to use Quad Comm evidence to prosecute cops behind drug killings
Interior Secretary Juan Victor “Jonvic” Remulla said that the Philippine National Police (PNP) would use the evidence and testimonies from the House quad committee’s hearings in its own reinvestigation of high-profile murders of suspected narco-politicians.
In a press briefing in Malacanang, Remulla said that he has yet to discuss with executive officials the developments in the House quad committee’s probe or the PNP’s second look at killings of local officials during the term of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
“That was not discussed and I think it’s a matter for the quad committee to finish. We will let them finish the probe first and then we will discuss it,” he told reporters.
Remulla said the PNP will use the “corroborative evidence and testimonies” from the ongoing House hearings on extra-judicial killings in its reinvestigation of high-profile killings.
“The quad committee is not yet finished, so the corroborative evidence, corroborative testimonies are not yet complete. They are still waiting for that before they reopen all of the cases,” he said, referring to the PNP which is under his supervision.
Remulla added: “It doesn’t reach the level of the President yet because the quad committee’s revelations are not yet complete. They will wait to have it finishes before things are opened.”
Earlier, the PNP said it will reopen a number of cold cases involving murders of local officials at the height of Duterte’s bloody war on illegal drugs.
These include the 2018 murder of Tanauan City Mayor Antonio Halili by the police, according to retired Police Colonel Royina Garma.
Two weeks ago, Garma told the House that Duterte offered cash rewards of up to P 1 million for the killings of drug suspects, including local officials on his so-called “narco-list.”
