Duterte ordered killing of Chinese inmates, BuCor exec confirms 

Corrections Supt. Gerardo Padilla, former head of the Davao Penal and Prison Farm when three Chinese nationals detained in the facility were killed, appears before the House of Representatives’ quad-committee on Wednesday, September 4, 2024. Padilla admitted to receiving orders not to interfere with an “operation” from former police officer Royina Garma. (Photo from the House of Representatives media bureau)

MANILA, Philippines — Corrections Senior Supt. Gerardo Padilla has confirmed a hitman’s testimony that former President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the killing of three Chinese nationals jailed at the Davao Prison and Penal Farm, adding that it was also true that the ex-leader congratulated him.

During the quad committee’s fifth hearing on Thursday, Padilla gave the panels a supplemental affidavit, which became the subject of Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr.’s interpellation.

Gonzales asked Padilla if he could confirm the testimony of Leopoldo Tan, the hitman assigned to kill Chu Kin Tung, Jackson Lee, and Peter Wang. Tan testified during the August 22 quad committee hearing that he overheard Padilla speaking with Duterte, who congratulated the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) official for a “job well done.”

READ: Ex-prison head does a 180: Garma called me over ops vs slain Chinese

“Dito po sa aking affidavit, babasahin ko po: ‘Pinapatotohanan ko ang sinabi ni Tata na no’ng papunta kami sa investigation section ay tumunog ang cellphone ko at ito ay sinagot ko.  Ang tumawag sa akin ay ayon sa boses ay dating president Rodrigo Roa Duterte at sinabing ‘Congrats, Superintendent Padilla, job well done, pero grabe ‘yong ginawa, ginawang dinuguan’,” Padilla said, echoing Tan’s exact words.

(Here in my affidavit, I will read it: ‘I am confirming the statements of Tata that when we went to the investigation section, my cell phone rang and I answered it.  The person who called me, according to the voice, is former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte and he told me ‘Congrats, Superintendent Padilla, job well done, but it’s too much, they turned it into blood stew.)

“So Colonel Padilla, ngayon binasa mo ‘yong sa’yong salaysay na number four and six, ngayon inaamin mo na ngayon na totoo ang mga sinasabi ni Leopoldo Tan alyas Tata, na tinawagan ka ni presidente Duterte pagkatapos patayin ang tatlong Chinese?” Gonzales asked.

(So Colonel Padilla, now that you read parts number four and six of your affidavit, are you now admitting that the statements of Leopoldo Tan alias Tata — that former president Duterte called you after killing the three Chinese — are true?)

“Yes, Your Honor, as the voice I have heard over the phone,” Padilla replied.

READ: Duterte ordered killing of 3 Chinese men in 2016, hitman claims 

Padilla also confirmed to Gonzales that he indeed talked to former Police Col. Royina Garma and retired Police Col. Edilberto Leonardo. Previously, Padilla said that Garma called him over the operation to kill the three Chinese nationals.

“Inaamin mo din, inaamin mo ang lahat na ito ang sinabi ni Jimmy Fortaleza last hearing na nagkausap kayo ni Colonel Garma?” Gonzales asked.  “Inaamin mo din na nagkausap kayo ni Col. Leonardo na sinabing papatayin nila ang tatlong Chinese national?”

(Do you also admit to everything that Jimmy Fortaleza said last hearing, that you and Col. Garma talked?  Do you also admit that you and Col. Leonardo discussed the operation to kill the three Chinese nationals?)

“Yes your Honor, Mr. Chair,” Padilla replied.

Tan gave the testimony before the quad-committee out of dissatisfaction with the past administration, as he and fellow hitman Fernando Magdadaro were supposedly promised a cash grant and freedom in exchange for killing the Chinese nationals.

READ: BuCor exec cited for contempt for lying during quad-panel drug probe 

Tan said he and Magdadaro were slated to receive P3 million each for killing the three Chinese nationals, but were only given P2 million.  According to Tan, he did not mind losing P1 million, but they were waiting for them to be released.

Padilla was initially cited for contempt by the quad-committee because lawmakers found him lying, as he insisted that he was not aware of the order to transfer the Chinese nationals to the same solitary confinement cell where Tan and fellow hitman Fernando Magdadaro were placed.

When Padilla said the order came from another Davao Penal Farm official, Corrections Sr. Insp. Nonie Forro, lawmakers allowed the latter to explain his side.

According to Forro, he is only the third-in-line in terms of approving prisoner movements.