President Rodrigo Duterte attends the "Salamat PRRD" thanksgiving concert at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on June 26, 2022. Karl Alonzo, Presidential Photo

MANILA  (UPDATED) — The House Quad Committee on Thursday approved a motion to invite former President Rodrigo Duterte to "hear his side" after a resource person implicated him in the killing of 3 Chinese drug lords in a Davao prison in 2016.

During Thursday's probe, inmates Fernando Magdadaro and Leopoldo Tan Jr. said they were promised money and liberty in exchange for killing the 3 alleged Chinese drug lords. 

• House 'quad-comm' to invite Duterte, Bato to EJK, POGO, drug probe

“Sinabi niya, “may ipapatrabaho ako sa iyo at may basbas sa taas. Baka matulungan ka rin namin na makalaya, kakausapin namin ang president”. Sabi pa ni SPO4 Arthur Narsolis, “Sayang din itong isang manok kada ulo”. Sa aking pagkakaintindi at pagkakaalam ang isang manok ay isang milyon,” Tan told the joint committee.

“Sinabi pa ni SPO4 Arthur Narsolis na ang mga Chinese na mga ito ay drug lords at galit ang president sa kanila,” he added.

After surveillance, Tan said he informed the person, who gave him the hit order that it may be difficult to kill the three Chinese because they were detained in the “foreign ward”, which is separated by a wall from the maximum security compound, where he is detained. Tan added he was told to look for an accomplice and that they and the targets will be brought to solitary confinement.

Tan then approached inmate Fernando Magdadaro, who was convicted of murder and illegal possession of firearms.

“Idinagdag pa ni Leopoldo Tan na kami ay nasa panig na ng gobyerno at pinangakuan kami ng Kalayaan maliban sa kaunting halaga. Dahil dito, pumayag na ako sa kanyang pakiusap,” Magdadaro said.

A search was conducted in their cell on August 11, 2016 and the two inmates said it was made to appear that shabu was found in their pocket, triggering the move to bring the two to solitary confinement. Two days later, the three alleged Chinese drug lords were also brought to the same cell.

• House 'quadcom' says invitation to Bato, Duterte 'still stands'

On the evening of August 13, 2016, Magdadaro and Tan stabbed the three using bladed weapons supposedly provided to them by the cell mayor.

After the three Chinese were killed, Tan said he heard the officer-in-charge of the facility, who went to the cell, talk to a person over the phone.

“Habang naglalakad kami papuntang Investigation Section tumunog ang cellphone ni Supt. Padilla… Nadinig ko na sinabi nung tumawag kay Supt. Padilla, “Congrats, Supt. Padilla, job well done. Pero grabe ‘yung ginawa, ginawang dinuguan.” Alam ko na ang kausap ni Supt. Padilla ay si Pres. Duterte dahil pamilyar ko ang boses niya,” Tan told the joint panel.

“Medyo seryoso ‘yung sinabi mo. Pinaninindigan mo ba ‘yan?” House Committee on Dangerous Drugs Chairperson Rep. Robert Ace Barbers asked.

“Yes, sir,” Tan replied.

“Nakakausap mo ba si Pres. Duterte?” Barbers inquired further.

“Naririnig ko lang palagi ang boses niya, kaya pamilyar ‘yung boses na narinig ko,” Tan answered.

“Naka speaker phone ba?” House Committee on Public Order and Safety Vice Chairperson Rep. Romeo Acop asked.

“May pinindot po siya para mag-speaker on,” Tan replied.

“Pagkatapos ng tawag, sabi ni Supt. Padillla sa mga kasamahan niya doon, 'Tumawag si Presidente, nag-congrats sa akin.' Dahil sa sinabing ito ni Supt. Padilla, kaya lalo akong napaniwala na ang tumawag sa kanya ay si Presidente Duterte,” he added.

Two days later, Tan said he and Magdadaro were informed that the reward money of P2 million total or P1 million for each of them was already available, which they requested to be given to their respective wives. Tan told the panel that this figure was less than the agreed P3 million total, but opted not to complain, since the supposed promise of freedom was more important. They, however, remained in prison.

“Palagi kong tinatawagan si SPO4 Narsolis patungkol sa aming paglaya at ang palagi naman niyang sinasabi, 'mag-antay-antay lang kayo, makakalaya rin kayo, sabihan namin ang Presidente.' Naghintay kami sa pangakong iyon, hanggang natapos ang administrasyon, hindi kami tinulungan na lumabas. Hanggang sa pinaamin nila ang kaso ng pagpataya sa tatlong Chinese drug lord at kinasuhan kami ng homicide… Na-convict kami… Ibinigay ko itong salaysay na ito dahil sa galit ko sa kanila. Ginawa naman namin ang pinatrabaho nila, pero hindi naman tinupad ang kalayaan na ipinangako,” Tan said.

Some lawmakers believe it will be difficult to carry out a kill order inside prisons if it was not sanctioned.

“Hindi lang ‘yun ang nangyaring pagpatay ng Chinese nationals. It was all over the country. Mahirap po gawin ‘yun. Patayin mo ‘yung mga Chinese nationals na nakalagay sa iba’t ibang bilangguan kung walang direct approval from the administration. So I believe there is a great conspiracy emanating from the leader itself all the way down to the small officials. That is my point at that is what we will try to prove,” Surigao del Sur 2nd District Representative Johnny Pimentel said.

“On the assumption that other evidence to establish the widespread and systematic against civilian population, we have a case for extrajudicial killing,” Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro added.

“The former administration seemingly and allegedly did not only use the policemen to kill, but even used prisoners to kill,” House Committee on Human Rights Chairperson Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. noted.

The House Quad Comm approved a motion to invite former President Rodrigo Duterte in its hearing "in the interest of fairness" and "to hear his side" regarding the statement of Tan implicating him in the killing of three Chinese drug lords in a Davao prison in August 2016. Other law enforcers and inmates named by Tan in the affidavit will also be invited.

The House Quad Committee is investigating alleged extrajudicial killings in the Duterte administration’s war on drugs. It is also investigating illegal drugs and illegal POGOs in the country. 

'HEARSAY, DEMOLITION JOB'

Duterte’s former spokesperson, Atty. Harry Roque, tagged Tan’s statement as “hearsay” adding that it cannot bind the former President.

“Hearsay and res inter alios acta. Binds only person confessing and can’t bind third parties such as FPRRD,” Roque told ABS-CBN News.

Duterte’s former Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Atty. Salvador Panelo, meanwhile, called the accusations against the former president part of a “demolition job”.

“The demolition job on the Dutertes is in full swing. The enemies of FPRRD are using convicted felons of murders and drug trafficking to link him to the murders of the 3 Chinese detainees of which they were the perpetrators on the basis of their bare allegations,” Panelo said in a statement.

“Those convicts have nothing to lose since they are jailed for life. Obviously, they are making those statements for a consideration. If it is true as they say that they killed the 3 Chinese in exchange for money and release from prison, necessarily they can lie about FRRRD’s alleged link to the murders for the same consideration of money and freedom coming from those, who want to destroy the Dutertes,” he added.