HOUSE Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro suggested that former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s confidential funds may have financed a cash reward system that incentivized extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during his administration’s controversial bloody war on illegal drugs.
In the Oct. 11 House Quad Committee hearing, Castro pressed former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office General Manager Royina Garma on the alleged flow of money used to fund the EJKs.
She pointed out that Duterte’s billions of pesos in confidential funds may have been funneled into a reward system that motivated operatives to carry out killings of drug suspects.
“You think iyong pera po ay isang source ng pinagkukuhanan ng rewards ay iyong confidential funds or intelligence funds?” Castro asked.
Garma, hesitant to confirm or speculate, responded, “Ayoko pong mag-speculate po, Your Honor.”
Earlier in the hearing, Garma read her sworn affidavit, directly implicating Duterte in orchestrating a nationwide campaign that led to the EJKs of drug suspects.
The affidavit not only exposed the alleged reward system that incentivized the killings but also detailed the alleged roles of Duterte and his close aide, Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, in overseeing and coordinating the anti-drug operations.
Castro focused on the supposed financial flow from Go to former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Region 11 chief Police Col. Edilberto Leonardo, other Philippine National Police (PNP) officials, and operatives from agencies like the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and Bureau of Corrections.
“So, makikita natin, Mr. Chair, ang driving factor bakit marami po iyong pinatay na mga mahihirap ay dahil may rewards,” Castro stated.
Garma confirmed the existence of the reward system but did not specify where the funds came from.
Castro further linked key figures close to Duterte, such as Go and Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, the first PNP chief under Duterte, suggesting they facilitated the flow of money.
“Si Sen. Bong Go at Sen. Ronald Bato ay talagang close kay PRRD,” Castro noted.
Garma, in response, said Leonardo had handled much of the distribution of funds for the rewards but claimed limited knowledge of the complete picture.
Also during her interpellation, Castro brought up the omission of known Duterte associates such as businessman Michael Yang, while Garma only mentioned Peter Lim, a notorious drug lord in the Visayas.
Yang, who once served as Duterte’s economic adviser, was allegedly involved in drug smuggling in Mindanao.
The exchange bolstered Castro’s claim that Duterte’s confidential and intelligence funds may have fueled a reward system linked to EJKs in the drug war.
While Garma did not directly confirm the connection, Castro’s questions raised concerns about the potential misuse of funds during Duterte’s presidency and the deadly tactics of his anti-drug campaign.
Garma later admitted that many officers knew about the flow of funds but were too afraid to speak out.
“Lahat po sila—lahat po ng officer na nandito po sa loob—alam po nila iyan; public knowledge lang po. Ako lang po ang naglakas loob magsabi,” she said.
Garma also informed the Quad Committee that while she did not know the exact amounts, cash rewards for drug-related killings ranged from P20,000 to P1 million, depending on the target.
