'Davao Model' exposed: Ex-PNP officer Leonardo validates drug war reward system

MANILA, Philippines — Retired police colonel Edilberto Leonardo, who had repeatedly denied that the Duterte administration implemented a reward system for its war on drugs, acknowledged its existence at the House Quad Committee's ninth hearing.

However, the resigned police commissioner remained tight-lipped about the details. 

After the lengthy public hearing on Tuesday, October 22, Rep. Bienvenido Abante (Manila, 6th District) asked Leonardo if he "believed" retired Davao police officer Royina Garma's claims that the police officers were rewarded for killing drug suspects. 

“This is my question, and this will only be answerable [by] yes or no. I am not going to ask [for] any more explanation, Colonel Leonardo. … Regarding the two affidavits of Colonel Garma that you have read and heard, do you believe in them?” Abante asked in a mix of English and Filipino. 

“Yes, Mr. Chair,” Leonardo answered. 

When Abante sought clarification on whether he believed a reward system existed, Leonardo was initially hesitant to answer either yes or no. He reiterated his previous statements, saying he had only "heard" about it but had no personal knowledge.

Although Abante pressed him, which eventually led to Leonardo saying “Yes, Mr. Chair.” 

Confirmation of the reward system, known as the “Davao Model,” came after Garma bared to the House joint committee that she had referred Leonardo, her upperclassman, to former President Rodrigo Duterte to implement the model on a national scale. 

Garma claimed that police officers were paid between P20,000 and P1 million for each drug suspect killed. 

In her second affidavit, she revealed her personal knowledge of the “Davao Death Squad,” or DDS, from her time assigned in Davao, including the direct payments of P5,000 and P20,000 received by station commanders, including herself for drug suspects killed. 

This was consistent with the findings of the Commission on Human Rights regarding the DDS reward system, as presented by former Sen. Leila de Lima on Tuesday.

RELATED: De Lima: 'Davao Model' resembles Davao Death Squad's reward system

She also said it was Leonardo who organized the task force and developed a proposal detailing the