Family of drug war victim in Cebu hopes House probe will uncover truth
CEBU CITY – A Cebuano who lost his brother in the drug war implemented by former President Rodrigo Duterte hoped that the mystery behind the gruesome deaths of many individuals would finally be uncovered.
Rico Niño Hermoso, whose brother was killed by unidentified assailants in a coffee shop in Barangay Cogon Ramos here in 2019, said they were grateful that an inquiry had finally been made so that the culprits in the deaths of their loved ones could finally be pinpointed.
He supported former Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s statement against now retired police colonel Royina Garma, who was director of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), when the unsolved killings of suspected drug personalities occurred.
Osmeña, during a House of Representatives quad committee hearing on Sept. 19, exposed the alleged vigilante-style killings and the misuse of police power during Garma’s time as CCPO chief.
Osmeña accused Garma of receiving P1 million every week from unnamed sources for reasons he did not elaborate.
“(Former) Mayor Tommy Osmeña already connected the dots. I believe it’s just a matter of time when justice will be served to all the victims, including my brother,” said Hermoso in a social media post.
Dots connected
Hermoso said it has been five years since his brother’s death yet justice remains elusive.
“I strongly believe my brother and those who died in the supposed drug war were victims of the previous administration,” he said.
“One thing is sure, President Rodrigo Duterte’s policy gives vigilantes a license to kill, even their personal enemies, to put your name on the drugs list easily,” said Hermoso.
Osmeña said he would provide more information on the matter in the next quad committee hearing regarding the vigilante-style killings during Duterte’s presidency.
“But just to give you a teaser, it wasn’t only drug suspects who were killed. Policemen were killed too, and innocent people were jailed, including students and SK (Sangguniang Kabataan) officials, preventing them from voting. These are all documented,” the former mayor said.
