A Philippine National Police (PNP) officer testified before the Senate Blue Ribbon Subcommittee investigating the Duterte administration’s drug war, alleging that House QuadCom co-chair Dan Fernandez instructed him to verify the existence of a rewards system for drug war operations.
PNP Drug Enforcement Group P/Col. Hector Grijaldo made the claim in a sworn statement submitted and read to the subcommittee.
Grijaldo stated that on October 22, 2024, during a QuadComm hearing, Fernandez called him to a side meeting, where he was shown P/Col. Royina Garma’s supplemental affidavit. Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante was also reportedly present.
“Cong. Dan Fernandez put the paper he was holding on the table and told me ito ang sasabihin mong statement na ito while pointing on the paragraph on the paper ito ang supplemental affidavit ni Col Garma sabihin mong alam mo ang rewards system iconfirm mo lang,” Grijaldo recounted.
Fernandez refuted Grijaldo’s claim, calling it false.
“Lies. True Pinatawag siya because the lawyer of Col. Garma told us na may alam siya sa reward system. We never asked him to sign any affidavit.
We asked him if have any knowledge about what Col. Garma talked about. Col. Garma said to us that Col. Grijaldo can confirm the truthfulness of her affidavit and she send her 2 lawyers to witness the conversation. We never ask him to sign any affidavit. That’s a lie,” Fernandez stated.
Abante also denied Grijaldo’s allegations.
“There is no truth to the accusations that I forced anyone to sign any affidavit in exchange for favors or the possibility of promotions,” Abante said in his own statement.
Abante also criticized the Senate’s handling of the hearing.
“However, it is clear from the conduct of the Senate hearing that a conflict of interest exists and compromises the Senate’s ability to hold fair and impartial proceedings. Senators can either be subjects of the hearing or can be involved in conducting it—they cannot be both,” Abante added.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte has accused the lawmakers of encouraging perjury, signaling his intention to use Grijaldo’s statement from the Senate hearing as the basis for a complaint.