THE former warden of the Davao Prison and Penal Farm (DPPF) on Wednesday recanted his previous statements and suggested that former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte may have orchestrated the killings of three Chinese drug lords in 2016.
Supt. Gerardo Padilla, testifying before the House Quad Committee, confirmed a conversation with then-CIDG officer Royina Garma regarding the murders, implying that Garma was acting under orders from a higher authority—hinting at the involvement of Duterte.
During the hearing, Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. questioned Padilla about whether the pressure came solely from Garma or someone higher. Padilla acknowledged there was a “bigger person” behind Garma’s orders, and though he hesitated to directly implicate Duterte, he agreed that Garma was acting under the control of a more powerful figure.
“Hindi ko naman ini-implicate pero hawak po sila ng mas mataas,” Padilla said. Abante further clarified if the “higher person” was Duterte, to which Padilla replied, “Yes, your honor.”
Later the Quad Comm held an executive session.
In his testimony, Padilla also recanted earlier denials, implicating Garma in the killings of Chu Kin Tung, Li Lan Yan and Wong Meng Pin, aligning his new affidavit with earlier witness testimonies that connected Duterte to the events.
Abante concluded by clarifying that Padilla believed Garma was following orders from someone more powerful, likely Duterte.
“Ibig sabihin, hawak po si Chief Garma ng mas mataas. At ang mas mataas diyan ay ang dating Pangulo. Tama ho ba ako?” Abante asked. Padilla replied, “Yes, your honor.”
Padilla, currently detained for 30 days by the House Quad Committee for contempt, retracted his earlier denial of involvement in the killings of Chu Kin Tung, also known as Tony Lim; Li Lan Yan, also known as Jackson Li; and Wong Meng Pin, also known as Wang Ming Ping.
Self-confessed hitmen Leopoldo “Tata” Tan Jr. and Fernando “Andy” Magdadaro had earlier testified before the Quad Committee, admitting they killed the three Chinese nationals on the alleged orders of former President Duterte.
In his testimony, Tan claimed that after the killings, he overheard Padilla receiving a congratulatory phone call, allegedly from Duterte, praising him for a job well done.
Padilla denied this during the Aug. 28 Quad Committee hearing, but in his latest affidavit, he directly implicated Garma in the murders.
“During the Public Hearing of the House Quadcom held on Aug. 28, 2024, when asked if I had the conversation with then CIDG Garma, I denied it because I was under threat and I am concerned with my safety and that of my family who lives in Davao City,” Padilla stated in his newly signed two-page affidavit.
“In fact and in truth, I had a conversation of CIDG Chief Garma as mentioned above but I did not divulge at the time for security reasons,” he added in his affidavit dated Sept. 2, 2024.
Padilla recalled that sometime between 2015 and 2016, when he was acting superintendent of the DPPF, Garma called him using the cellphone of an inmate, Jimmy Fortaleza, and instructed him not to interfere with an operation about to take place inside the facility.
“Prior to such killings, I have been subjected to an intense pressure by then CIDG officer Royina Garma who called me up through the cellphone of another inmate Jimmy Fortaleza,” Padilla said.
“Chief Garma told me ‘may mga tao kami dyan na gagawa at huwag mo na kwestiyonin, and whether you like it or not we will operate and do not interfere, baka madamay pa pamilya mo.’ She added that ‘mag cooperate ka na lang or mananagot ka sa amin,” he continued.
Padilla said Garma’s call left him feeling threatened, as he was aware of a similar operation carried out against a drug lord in Leyte days earlier.
Fearing for his safety, Padilla said he decided not to interfere with the killings of the three suspected Chinese drug lords.
“Because of the call of CIDG Garma, I became wary of my safety and I began to observe the personnel of DPPF who among them were the people referred to by CIDG Garma,” he said.
“Although I have not personally met CIDG Garma, I knew the one I talked with was Garma because inmate Jimmy Fortaleza told me Garma wants to talk to me and thereafter handed over to me his cellular phone,” he added.
Earlier in the hearing, several lawmakers voiced concerns that Padilla might not be telling the truth.
“I believe that [Padilla] is holding more information vital to this hearing,” said Surigao del Sur 2nd District Rep. Johnny Pimentel.
Padilla denied any involvement in planning the killings of the Chinese nationals, but Antipolo City 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop remained unsatisfied with his explanation.
“Kasama ka sa plano dahil kung hindi mo alam o ayaw mo sa plano, hindi mangyayari ito,” Acop said.
Zambales 1st District Rep. Jay Khonghun remarked that as the head of the DPPF, Padilla could “delegate his authority, but not his responsibility,” stressing that ultimate accountability for any actions within the facility still rested on his shoulders, regardless of who carried out the tasks.
The Quad Committee, chaired by Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, later approved a motion by Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez, chair of the Committee on Public Order and Safety, to hold an executive session.
The move aimed to provide Padilla a secure environment to disclose information he described as “very sensitive.”
Padilla further explained that he had withheld certain details earlier because the information he possessed could endanger both his safety and that of his family.
In his new affidavit, Padilla also tagged another prison official in the murders, whom he said made “his own moves” in DPPF.
“Among the personnel I have strong inkling to consider as people referred to by Ms. Garma was then Deputy Superintendent for Security Operation Robert Quinto and inmate Jimmy Fortaleza,” he stated.
“Since the time of the call of CIDG chief Garma, I have since desisted from interfering with the security operations of the DPPF and allowed Deputy Quinto to make his own moves,” he added.
“On the day of the killings, I was already in my quarters and no longer on duty. When I was informed of the incident, I immediately went to the crime scene and ordered medical team to bring the PDL to Davao Medical Center,” Padilla said.
Last Aug. 28, the Quad Committee cited Padilla in contempt for not telling the truth during the joint investigation into links between Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, illegal drug syndicates, extrajudicial killings and other related issues.
Witnesses in the Quad Committee probe have alleged that Garma was involved in planning and overseeing the killings inside DPPF. She has been invited to testify but has yet to appear before the joint panel.
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