Lt. Col. Jovie Espenido, a former key figure in the Philippine drug war, alleged that Senators Christopher “Bong” Go and Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa instructed police to use extreme measures, including killing, to combat drug suspects.
In a detailed affidavit presented to the House committee, Espenido claimed that Go channeled funds from various sources into a “quota and reward system” for the drug war. At the same time, Dela Rosa, as the PNP chief, ordered him to “eliminate” drugs in Leyte, which was understood to include killings.
Espenido also accused the drug war of using Pogo money and creating a reward system for successful arrests and killings.
Both Go and Dela Rosa have denied the allegations, labeling them as defamatory and Dela Rosa stating he only referred to legal methods.
Espenido, previously lauded for his role in high-profile drug raids, now faces multiple charges and has been implicated in controversial police actions.
Source : PhilNews24 | August 29, 2024
