Duterte admits to drug war reward system: ‘I sometimes gave extra as a reward’
Former President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday confirmed the existence of a reward system for police officers involved in his war on drugs but stopped short of saying whether these were indeed drawn from confidential funds.
Under questioning by Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel during the House quad committee’s 11th hearing into the drug war, Duterte admitted that he indeed gave “tips for the boys” whenever they solved big crimes or lacked funding for missions that did not have formal budget allocations.
“If there is an operation which is not funded by the police, you have to provide,” Duterte told Manuel. “I sometimes gave extra as a reward … That’s just natural for a mayor.”
This was a complete about-face from his earlier testimony at the Senate hearing on the same issue, where Duterte refuted the accusation and denied ever paying police to incentivize killings in the drug war. He claimed that he only provided personal support like meals or personal assistance.
Still, Duterte was vague about where he obtained the funds. At one point, he admitted that he had requested additional funding for the Office of the President during his term specifically so that he could provide allowances for police officers.
Excess campaign funds
He also claimed that he used excess campaign funds to reward police officers.
Under Commission on Election rules, unexpended campaign funds do not necessarily have to be returned, but they must be subject to income tax.
Duterte also claimed that the money often came from something called the peace and order funds for local executives.
He refused to clarify if these funds were the same as confidential funds. “In any case, don’t ask me about how I used such funds. That’s why it’s called intelligence and confidential funds, I am protecting the interests of the republic when I dispense confidential funds.”
“You are asking me as if you are the Commission on Audit,” he added. “I won’t answer you, and in any case, I don’t know the details, you have to bring the papers.”
The reward system for the drug war first came to light after one of Duterte’s former favored cops, former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) chief Royina Garma, testified before the quad committee that she was tapped to help bring the so-called Davao model of the drug war to the national level when Duterte assumed the presidency in 2016.
Garma said the cash rewards for drug-related killings ranged from P20,000 to P1 million, depending on the target.
Included in this Davao model was the template for a reward system that was allegedly overseen by former National Police Commission Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo to incentivize police in targeting drug suspects.
At the same hearing, Duterte confirmed under questioning by 1-Rider Rep. Rodge Gutierrez that he did indeed look for a police officer who was a member of the Iglesia Ni Cristo sect – like Leonardo – as “INC members cannot be easily corrupted by money.”
