pampawerte Fernandez on Duterte’s promised aid for cops: He can’t afford his fare

Former President Rodrigo Duterte attends the House quad panel hearing on drug war on Nov. 13, 2024. (Photo from House of Representatives Media Bureau)

MANILA, Philippines — After former President Rodrigo Duterte vowed to mount a P1-million fund to support policemen facing charges for drug operation-related cases, Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez asked how come he could not afford his fare.

During the hearing of the House of Representatives’ quad committee on Wednesday, Fernandez mentioned to Duterte Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Marbil’s recent statement that 214 cops faced 352 criminal cases from July 2016 to June 2022, the period when Duterte was in office.

Article continues after this advertisement

When Fernandez reminded Duterte of his promise to be legally responsible for the cases, Duterte said he would mount P1 million to help the cops.

FEATURED STORIES NEWSINFO New storm forecast to enter PAR Thursday to be named Pepito NEWSINFO Tensions flare as Brosas, Duterte trade barbs in drug war hearing NEWSINFO Typhoon Ofel keeps its strength over PH Sea; Signal No. 2 up in 2 areas


“He (Marbil) noted that even as former President Duterte publicly committed to supporting those enforcing the campaign, he said there is no official record that these commitments were fully realized,” Fernandez said, quoting a news report.

Duterte replied: I would now make this promise. I will start a fund for the protection of police officers.  I’m putting up P1 million. I will find fund sources, I admit that I have P1 million, I will lie if I say I don’t have that, I’ll start, I’ll raise a fund to help the police.”

Article continues after this advertisement

“I will also personally appear in court, I will be their defense counsel,” he added.

Article continues after this advertisement

Fernandez then pointed out that just recently, Duterte was complaining about not having money for his airfare.

Article continues after this advertisement

Duterte butted in before Fernandez could finish his remark, prompting quad committee lead presiding officer and Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers to suspend the hearing.

“Mr. Chairman, Mr. President, two days ago you mentioned you do not have the airfare to go to this hearing, and I’m pretty shocked that you have P1 million in your account to help our policeman.  We salute you, Mr. President, for that and for being honest,” Fernandez said.

Article continues after this advertisement

“That one is for my subsistence,” Duterte said.

Quad committee leaders — Barbers, Fernandez, and other co-chairs like Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr., Abang Lingkod party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano; vice chair Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop; Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr.; and Deputy Speaker David Suarez — last Sunday offered to fund the expenses of Duterte’s entourage after it was floated that money was an issue.

According to the lawmakers, they made the offer “to remove any financial barriers Duterte cited as reasons for missing the panel’s November 7 hearing.”

READ: Quad comm offers to pay for ex-Pres. Duterte’s airfare so he can join probe

“If finances are truly an issue, we’re ready to cover his travel and accommodations ourselves. This is about the people’s right to know the truth about alleged abuses in his administration’s anti-drug operations,” Barbers said.

Revelations from former police officials, like retired colonel Royina Garma’s claims about the existence of a rewards system in the Duterte administration’s drug war, have bolstered lawmakers’ belief that there were irregularities in the operations.

According to Garma, Duterte called her in 2016 about the creation of a task force that would implement the so-called Davao template on a nationwide scale.  The Davao template, Garma said, involved providing cash grants worth P20,000 to P1 million to cops who killed drug suspects.

READ: Garma says Davao drug war template, rewards system applied in entire PH

Garma also claimed that the Davao Death Squad, a team that Duterte supposedly crafted, was common knowledge among police officers in Davao.

At a Senate hearing last October 28, Duterte said he created a seven-man hit squad made up of gangsters when he was Davao City mayor, but he retracted his statement when senators asked for a clarification.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

SIGN ME UP

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

READ: Duterte admits to having ‘death squadpampawerte,’ later insists it’s not one

READ NEXT Trump 2.0: PH stays optimistic amid worries on aid, health care Tensions flare as Brosas, Duterte trade barbs in drug war hearing EDITORS' PICK The pressing needs of Filipinos House probe into Duterte drug war won’t be fair – VP Sara EASL: Jericho Cruz ejected in another San Miguel loss Gen Z drives America’s love for Filipino food, data shows Palace: Duterte free to surrender to ICC if he wishes Typhoon Ofel keeps its strength over PH sea; Signal No. 2 up in 2 areas MOST READ PH summons Chinese envoy to protest Bajo de Masinloc baselines Pagasa explains why Northern Luzon is often hit by recent typhoons LIVE UPDATES: Typhoon Ofel New storm forecast to enter PAR Thursday to be named Pepito Follow @FMangosingINQ on Twitter --> View comments

• amp
• #8217
• on
• pampawerte
• Fernandez