Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, former chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) during the early years of the Duterte administration’s controversial war on drugs, denied knowledge of any reward system for police officers involved in anti-narcotics operations. This came after former police colonel Royina Garma testified before the House of Representatives, stating that a “Davao Model” of a reward system was implemented for eliminating drug personalities.
Garma, also a former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager, claimed that then-President Rodrigo Duterte contacted her in May 2016, before his official inauguration, asking for a recommendation of a police officer to implement the Davao City reward model on a national scale. This model allegedly involved tiered rewards for neutralizing drug targets.
Responding to these claims, Dela Rosa stated on Saturday, “I have no idea about that reward system.” He further clarified that, during his time as PNP Chief, there were no funds allocated for such a program. “I did not engage in a reward system because I had no funds for that,” he said in an interview with ABS-CBN News.
Dela Rosa, who had previously served as Davao City’s police chief under Duterte, also expressed confusion over Garma’s motivations for her testimony, emphasizing that he did not implement such a system during his tenure.
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, Duterte’s former aide, also addressed Garma’s statements, dismissing them as “diversionary tactics.” He accused Garma of trying to shift attention away from her alleged involvement in the 2019 murder of PCSO board secretary Wesley Barayuga. Go, who has been implicated in controversies surrounding drug war-related killings, strongly rejected Garma’s testimony.
Meanwhile, Police Major Jovie Espenido, who was involved in several high-profile anti-drug operations, claimed that the reward system was funded through gambling operations, including illegal activities. He stated that this reward system was well-known within police ranks.
Dela Rosa, however, maintained that any reward system within the PNP was solely based on the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-approved list of most wanted persons. He reiterated that he did not support a monetary reward system for killing drug personalities, stating, “It is a sworn duty of every policeman to keep his area free from drugs.”
The exchange highlights ongoing tensions and differing accounts about the controversial practices during the Duterte administration’s drug war.
Cool ka lang Sen. Bato