Senate Blue Ribbon subpoenas Garma, others to attend drug war probe

Former president Rodrigo R. Duterte (center) at the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee hearing on Monday (Oct. 28, 2024). (Photo: Senate of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA – The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Monday issued subpoenas against retired police officers Royina Garma, Edilberto Leonardo, and self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa.

During Monday’s hearing, Garma was on medical leave and Leonardo is positive of Covid-19, according to the Senate secretariat.

Garma and Leonardo recently testified at the House of Representatives’ quad committee hearing that Senators Ronald Dela Rosa and Christopher Lawrence Go established a reward system that encouraged extrajudicial killings during the drug war of the Duterte administration.

Former president Rodrigo R. Duterte attended the hearing.

The panel was also informed that Bureau of Corrections’ Senior Supt. Gerardo Padilla did not acknowledge the panel’s invitation.

On the other hand, former Philippine National Police chiefs Oscar Albayalde, Guillermo Eleazar, Dionardo Carlos, as well as retired police generals Isidro Lapeña, and Wilkins Villanueva, promised to attend the next hearing.

Former customs intelligence officer Jimmy Guban, currently under the custody of the House of Representatives, also failed to show up.

“A subpoena will be issued to those who were invited and even those whom we failed to notify. Subpoena na tayo diretso para sa next hearing hindi sayang ang panahon natin (Let’s go with subpoena directly for the next hearing so our time will not be wasted),” subcommittee chairperson Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III announced.

Pimentel said he would coordinate with their counterparts in the House of Representatives.