admin 
KUNG may pasabog sa Kamara, gayundin sa Senado kung saan isang police colonel ang nagsiwalat sa di umano’y alok na “promotion” ng dalawang kongresista kapalit ng testimonyang magdidiin kay former President Rodrigo Duterte sa reward system sa ilalim ng giyera kontra droga ng nakalipas na administration.
Sa unang sultada ng pagdinig ng Senate blue ribbon committee, inilahad ni Police Col. Hector Grijaldo ang paanyaya ng isang “security official” na dumalo sa paanyaya ng dalawang ranking House officials — sina Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez at Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr.
Ayon kay Grijaldo, naganap ang pulong noong Oktubre 22.
“When I entered the room, I saw two lawyers of Police Colonel Garma, standing inside the room, one of the lawyers approached me, and then asked me, what are we going to talk about? I said, I do not know. After a while, Cong. Dan Fernandez entered the room, and he asked me to sit beside him on his right side. And then, Cong. Abante entered the room, sat at the far end of the chair on the right,” kwento ng police official.
“Cong. Dan Fernandez put the paper he was holding on the table and told me, ‘mention this statement’ while pointing at the paragraph on the paper.”
Saad aniya sa naturang talata ang kumpirmasyon sa reward system na kalakip ng madugong giyera kontra droga.
Nang kanya di umanong tanggihan, deretsahang nagtanong si Fernandez kung alin bahagi ng salaysay ni former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Royina Garma ang pwede niyang tindigan.
“I was puzzled, and I asked myself, ‘Why me?’ I respectfully told him that I cannot confirm what they are saying as I have not read the affidavit. We went silent for a while, and then Cong. Dan Fernandez said, while holding the statement, ‘Where can you fit? Here in 1999, about the DDS (Davao Death Squad), you know this, you’re already a cop in Davao during this time’,” ani Grijaldo.
“I politely told him that I was not still with the PNP because I was working with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in 1999 at that time.”
Dito na umano pumasok sa eksena si Abante na nagtanong kung gaano katagal na siya sa serbisyo.
“Then Cong. Abante asked me how many years I still have with the PNP. I answered, ‘I still have four years before my retirement.’ Then he made a remark, ‘you can still be a general’,” aniya pa.
Ani Grijaldo, pilit siyang hinihikayat ni Abante na kumanta para maging heneral man lang bago dumating ang takdang petsa ng mandatory retirement sa hanay ng mga pulis.
“I humbly responded to him (Abante), I am happy with my rank sir, magtatanim na lang po ako ng kamote pagkatapos mag retiro. The cordial conversation between us continued. And I felt that they wanted to convince me to do what they wanted me to do. Then Cong. Abante asked me where I serve as a chief of police, to which I answered, ‘Mandaluyong City Police Station, sir’.”
“Cong. Abante then persuaded me by saying, ‘ikaw naman colonel, this is what we do, I don’t think there was any incident in Mandaluyong during that time. I answered, and I served as a COP in Mandaluyong during the COVID-19 pandemic. And there were less crimes committed,” dagdag ng police colonel.
Para kay Grijaldo, malinaw na harassment ang ginawa sa kanya nina Fernandez at Abante.
“I feel that I’ve been corrupted to make that statement your Honor, because at that time. It’s a harassment and very offensive and uncalled for anybody, at that time I was wearing my uniform […] It seems that they want me to lie.”
