Grijaldo claims House Panel Chairs pressured him to confirm war on drugs rewards

DAVAO CITY – In a tense and emotional testimony before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, Police Colonel Hector Grijaldo alleged that members of a House panel pressured him to lie and confirm a prepared affidavit regarding the government’s war on drugs.

Grijaldo, a former classmate of Royina Garma from the Philippine National Police Academy, recounted an incident during the Senate hearing where he was called into a room on October 22 by Santa Rosa, Laguna Representative Dan Fernandez, along with Manila Representative Benny Abante and Garma’s lawyers.

He claimed that Fernandez and Abante coerced him to read a prepared affidavit, which he ultimately refused to do. “I do not want to betray my country or the Philippine National Police Academy,” he stated during the hearing.

Invited as a resource person for a House public hearing on October 22, 2024, Grijaldo attended alongside various committees, including those focused on dangerous drugs, public order and safety, human rights, and public accounts. He testified that he was approached by security personnel while seated with other witnesses, where he was presented with an affidavit related to extrajudicial killings and the reward system for police actions.

Grijaldo described how he was instructed by Fernandez to sit beside him. “Cong. Dan Fernandez put the paper he was holding on the table and told me, ‘This is the statement you will say,’ while pointing to a specific paragraph. He said, ‘This is Colonel Garma’s supplemental affidavit; just confirm that you know about the reward system,’” Grijaldo explained.

During the House hearing, Garma had claimed that police officers and operatives were paid between P20,000 to P1 million per killing. Grijaldo recalled that when he asked for a copy of the affidavit being shown to him, it was not provided. A lawyer for Colonel Garma told him, “You are the only one who can say this, according to Col. Garma.” Grijaldo expressed confusion, asking himself, “Why me?”

Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, after hearing Grijaldo’s testimony, immediately inquired if he felt harassed by the congressmen. Grijaldo replied, “I felt harassed and very offended, Your Honor… At that time, I was wearing my uniform.”

Fernandez allegedly continued to pressure Grijaldo to confirm and testify about the reward system linked to the war on drugs. However, Grijaldo resisted, clarifying that he was assigned to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology at the time, not the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Grijaldo’s testimony raises serious concerns about the pressures faced by law enforcement officials amid ongoing investigations into the controversial anti-drug campaign. As the Senate continues its inquiry, the implications of these allegations could have significant repercussions for accountability and transparency within the police force.