Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go listens as President Rodrigo  Duterte presides over a meeting with key government officials at the Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center in Matina, Davao City on April 26, 2022. Toto Lozano, Presidential Photo

MANILA (UPDATE) — Sen. Bong Go, a former top aide of then-President Rodrigo Duterte, has denied that the previous administration employed a "reward system" in its drug war, but also said that he had nothing to do with the controversial anti-narcotics campaign.

• Garma links Duterte, Bong Go to state-sanctioned killings

"Walang reward system na iniimplementa noon kapalit ang buhay ng sinuman," Go said in a statement.

On Friday, retired police colonel Royina Garma directly implicated Rodrigo Duterte and Go in orchestrating a cash reward system in the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) of drug suspects during his term. A former PNP official known for narco-operations in August also confirmed that there was a "quota and rewards system" in the drug war.

• Police officer confirms 'quota, reward system' during Duterte drug war

In her affidavit submitted to the House Quad Committee, Garma revealed information involving Duterte and Go regarding their roles in overseeing and coordinating the reward system for police officers who killed drug suspects.

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She said Duterte ordered her to help find a Philippine National Police (PNP) officer to lead a national anti-drug task force replicating the “Davao Model,” a system rewarding police for killings.

But Go vehemently denied being involved in the drug war when he served as Special Assistant to the President from 2016 up until October of 2018 when he started his campaign to be a senator. He was elected in May 2019. 

“Bilang Special Assistant to the President noon, I have no participation whatsoever, directly or indirectly, in the operational requirements of the war on drugs,” he said.

• Garma says Duterte tapped 'Davao Model' on killing drug suspects

"Let me be very clear. Walang kinalaman ang aking opisina sa operasyon at organisasyon ng kapulisan. Hindi rin ako mismo humahawak ng pera ng opisina ng Pangulo dahil hindi yan parte ng mga tungkulin ko noon," he added.

Go also dismissed Garma's "malicious and unsubstantiated" statements, saying that the House panel's probe was being politicized.

"Nakakalungkot na baliktad na ang panahon ngayon. Hinahaluan ng pulitika ang mga imbestigasyon, at binabalewala na ang pinagsikapan ng nakaraang administrasyon," he said.

Go urged the Senate to conduct a "parallel but fair and impartial investigation into the allegations."

For former Sen. Leila de Lima, the International Criminal Court (ICC) should also investigate Go as Garma's revelation showed his "material" participation in the drug war.

"Yes, he must be included [in the ICC probe]. This is a very significant revelation from former Col. Garma… The participation of Sen. Bong Go is quite essential, quite material, quite crucial also, so he must be investigated, exactly his role," De Lima told ANC's Headstart.

GO'S AIDE SUMMONED TO HOUSE INQUIRY

The House Quad Committee has summoned an aide of Go known as "Muking", who was allegedly involved in the drug war's financial dealings.

“May motion to invite a certain Muking, si Muking daw ang siyang dinadaanan ng pera…Meron silang pondo na nakalaan para dyan. Para ma-release yang pondo na yan, may mga proseso. Kumbaga, parang siya yung treasurer ay siya ang magri-release after the mission is accomplished, ika nga,” said quad committee overall chairperson and Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers.

• Kerwin Espinosa: Dela Rosa coerced me to link De Lima to illegal drug trade

During last week's quad comm hearing, another witness Kerwin Espinosa also accused Sen. Bato dela Rosa, a former PNP chief, of using him to implicate drug war critic Leila de Lima in the drug trade, which was used as basis for her years-long detention.

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Barbers denied that the inquiry was targeting Duterte and his allies.

"May biglaang lumalabas na witnesses. Hindi ho namin kontrolado yan, sila ho ang pumupunta sa Kongreso," Barbers said. 

"Ang amin pong requirement sa kanila bago sila pagan magsalita e kailangan mag-execute sila ng affidavit at kasama nila yung kanilang abogado… kasi gusto namin na ‘pag sila ay humarap, pawang katotohanan lang ang kanilang sasabihin," he added. 

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