Former Davao police officer Royina Garma has revealed more details of the alleged police reward system for killing drug suspects during the Duterte administration’s war on drugs while also confirming the existence of the Davao Death Squad.

Garma, who served as a police officer in Davao City since 1997, said that she became aware of the DDS through various sources during her assignment in Davao.

“It was common knowledge among officers that almost all station commanders had special teams designated for specific operations. Although I did not know the identities of these teams, a culture of silence prevailed among police officers in Davao regarding such matters,” she said in a supplemental affidavit submitted to the House Quad Committee on October 22.

Garma said this “culture of silence” extended to police operations where no oversight was maintained over the killings conducted in the name of law enforcement.  She said it was an “open secret” that police officers were discouraged from discussing the DDS and the extrajudicial killings.

Garma, a former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager, was the first to reveal the alleged police reward system for the killing of drug suspects under the Duterte administration.

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

Why Garma revealed details on 'cash-for-killings' under Duterte

Cash rewards for drug-related killings ranged from P20,000 to P1 million, depending on the target, she said in a previous affidavit. 

Duterte has denied Garma's allegations, saying he never ordered the police to kill individuals involved in illegal drugs without due cause.

Duterte denies cash reward system in war on drugs 

In her supplemental affidavit, Garma revealed that during her time as station commander of the Sasa and Sta. Ana police stations from 2012-2016, rewards for killings were “significantly higher” and that she herself benefited from the system.

She said that in 2012, she received P20,000 after a police operation led to the death of a male suspect in Barangay Malagamot in Davao City. She said that before the killing, she received a call from Police Lt. Col. Padua, an intelligence officer working under then-Davao City Police Director Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, informing her of the upcoming operation.

“From that operation, I received ₱20,000 from Sgt. Suan provided by Boy Alce,” she stated, referring to an individual who facilitated the distribution of rewards to officers.

Rewards were distributed to officers for each successful killing, she said.

Garma also recounted the death of a known male drug user and pusher near GT Gasoline Station in Panacan, Davao. 

“I remember this person because, in the morning of the day of his death, the duty desk officer informed me that he went to my office and left an image of the Holy Family, to tell my men that he just went to Mass and was very happy,” Garma said. “A few hours later, he was dead.”

When Garma inquired about the incident, she was told by a certain Police Staff Sgt. Suan that the killing had been coordinated by Alce. “There was never any clearance from my office for this operation, nor was my office informed of it,” she said.

Garma said police commanders were required to submit reports on successful operations at the end of each month. These reports were crucial for obtaining reimbursements for operational expenses, which included costs such as buy-bust money and gasoline.

“At the end of each month, all station commanders were required to submit reports documenting successful police operations to the LGU of Davao,” Garma explained. “These reports included details of cases filed in the Office of the Prosecutor and other relevant information concerning the operations.”

For each case, Garma said commanders were reimbursed ₱5,000, which was handled through a liaison known as “Muking.”

“The disbursement of these funds occurred monthly through Irma Espino, aka ‘Muking,’ and we were required to sign documents acknowledging receipt of payment,” Garma said.

In a previous hearing, Muking was identified as Irmina Espino, a staff member in the office of Duterte’s long-time aide, Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, at the Davao City Hall.

Espino reportedly continued to work with Go when he became Special Assistant to the President at Malacañang, serving as Assistant Secretary in his office.

Garma stated in her affidavit that the rewards for killings were significantly higher.

“For the deaths of suspects, Sonny Buenaventura provided direct payments of ₱20,000 to station commanders, with no signed documentation required,” Garma said. ABS-CBN News Intern, Jianzen Deananeas