Former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Royina Garma claimed before the House quad-committee panel on Friday that the assassination of Tanuan, Batangas Mayor Antonio Halili was planned and executed by a team of police officers as part of the previous administration's war on drugs campaign.
Laguna First District Representative Dan Fernandez questioned Garma whether she knew other individuals who had been killed during the war on drugs.
She responded by mentioning a police officer who boasted about killing Halili.
"Pinagmalaki kasi ng isa sir eh," Garma said, to which Fernandez asked who that officer was.
Garma responded that it was a certain Major Albotra from Region 7, who is likely now a Lieutenant Colonel in rank.
"Pinagmalaki niya sa akin noon. Oh talaga? Sabi ko ‘how did you do it’?" said Garma.
"He said he’s in the team, Mr. Chair," she added.
Garma further stated that during the War on Drugs campaign, several drug-related killings carried out during operations were eventually passed off as legitimate police actions, and a code of silence is implemented among the officers involved.
"Real talk, Mr. Chair. Sa PNP, tahimik na. Matatakot na ‘yung iba. Even RDs would say na trabaho ‘yan,” Garma added.
Antonio Halili was accused of being involved in a narcotics ring within his jurisdiction and was included in then President Duterte's list of officials with alleged drug involvement, a claim later affirmed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
He later denied the allegations against him.
Halili was known for publicly parading drug suspects, who were made to wear cardboard signs that read, "I'm a pusher, don't emulate me," a practice widely referred to as the "Walk of Shame."
He was shot and killed by a sniper in July 2018 during a flag-raising ceremony at the city hall.
