黑料社

MANILA, Philippines 鈥� ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro and retired police colonel Royina Garma used to be on opposing sides 鈥� Castro, with activists and human rights defenders calling out the past administration鈥檚 bloody drug war, while Garma was one of the officers trusted to implement the anti-drug campaign.

But on Tuesday, it appears that Garma found solace in Castro 鈥� who revealed that they hugged for a while during the previous hearing.

Castro, on the other hand, praised Garma for her bravery as she testified to the existence of a rewards system for former president Rodrigo Duterte鈥檚 drug war.

鈥淪o Col. Garma is very brave, she showed us her cooperation and bravery because this is what we want, to get a sample of a rewards system.听 You are detained at the detention center of the House, right?听 Is it okay?听 Are you comfortable?鈥� Castro said during the House of Representatives鈥� quad committee hearing.

鈥淥kay naman po. I was able to adjust,鈥� Garma replied.

After this, Castro then admitted that Garma hugged her and said that she felt relieved for telling the truth before the quad committee.

鈥淵ou know Mr. Chair, disclosure.听 During the last hearing, Col. Garma met in the comfort room.听 I was shocked that she hugged me.听 She said she felt relieved, and I said well, it鈥檚 a good thing that you鈥檙e cooperating so that we can see the truth,鈥� Castro said in a mix of Filipino and English.

鈥淵ou know Mr. Chair, disclosure.听 During the last hearing, Col. Garma met in the comfort room.听 I was shocked that she hugged me.听 She said she felt relieved, and I said well, it鈥檚 a good thing that you鈥檙e cooperating so that we can see the truth,鈥� Castro said.

鈥淎nd she said her daughter pushed her to tell the truth.听 This is what makes our burden lighter.听 I know this, as a mother of two boys, it鈥檚 really a big deal if it is your child requesting you to do the right thing; it would really hit your conscience.听 I know the sacrifices that a mother makes in these situations,鈥� Castro added.

After Castro鈥檚 statements, she was able to let Garma admit that Duterte had called her while in detention to explain why he wanted an Iglesia ni Cristo member to head the national task force that he visualized in 2016.

READ: Garma: Duterte called to explain choice for drug war task force leader听

During the quad committee鈥檚 hearing last October 11, Garma admitted that Duterte called her in May 2016 鈥� after the latter won in the presidential race 鈥斕� directing her to find a police operative that can implement the drug war on a nationwide scale, with the Davao template in mind.

Garma said that the Davao template refers to the provision of rewards to police officers who can kill drug suspects.

According to Garma, Duterte wanted an Iglesia ni Cristo member as head.听 Eventually it would be revealed that Duterte had this preference because Iglesia members are good with money.

Garma said she told Duterte that she is unaware of 鈥渁ny individual with those qualifications鈥� as she has not been assigned outside of Davao.听 However, she remembered her upperclassman, former police colonel Edilberto Leonardo.

Garma also said that Leonardo told her that he had made a proposal outlining the task force鈥檚 operations, coursed through Senator Bong Go, who was then听the special assistant to Duterte.

She also admitted that initially, she facilitated the meetings between Go and Leonardo.听听Eventually, Garma said that the two men 鈥渆stablished direct communication.鈥�

Then on Tuesday, Garma admitted that the Davao Death Squad 鈥� said to be Duterte鈥檚 hit team tasked to kill drug suspects 鈥� existed.

READ: Garma claims DDS鈥� existence 鈥榗ommon knowledge鈥� among cops听

After her questions, Castro even offered advice to Garma, after learning that she asked for forgiveness from Duterte.

鈥淎ctually nag-sorry po ako.听 Yes, I said I鈥檓 sorry,鈥� Garma said.

鈥淢aybe that鈥檚 part of our culture.听 But we shouldn鈥檛 say sorry to him, because it is him, former president Duterte, who should ask for forgiveness for the thousands of people 鈥� young people and innocent ones 鈥� whom he had killed,鈥� Castro said in Filipino.