ITINANGGI ng dalawang abugado ni retired police Col. Royina Garma na pinilit ng dalawang co-chairman ng House Quad Committee si Police Col. Hector Grijaldo upang kumpimahin ang reward system sa Duterte drug war.

Inilabas ng mga abugado na sina Emerito Quilang at Rotciv Cumigad ang pinag-isang pahayag bilang tugon sa sinabi ni Grijaldo sa pagdinig ng Senado noong Oktobre 28 na pinilit siyang tumestigo sa mga bagay na wala itong alam.

Sina Quilang at Cumigad ay nagsilbing saksi ng ipatawag si Grijaldo para kausapin ng mga Quad Comm co-chairmen na sina Representatives Dan Fernandez ng Laguna at Bienvenido Abante Jr. ng Manila.

Sa pagdinig ng Quad Comm noong Huwebes, isinapubliko ni Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro ang naturang sulat ng mga abugado.

“I wish to invite the attention of the committee and the general public about this joint statement of the two lawyers whom I believe were present during that alleged incident or meeting,” sabi ni Luistro.

“If I may quote Mr. Chair the two lawyers state in this joint statement,” saad ng lady solon. “We would like to shed light on the nature of the interactions we observed the discussions were focused on ensuring clarity and understanding of Col. Garman’s affidavit particularly regarding any knowledge Col. Grijaldo might have about the reward system mentioned in it. At no point did any of the congressmen attempt to pressure Mr. Grijaldo into conforming to a predetermined narrative.”

“Mr. Chair, I wish to manifest that this letter clears clearly our Chairman Abante and Chairman Fernandez from the allegation of coercion and harassment about that incident which allegedly transpired during the hearing where Col. Grijaldo attended as testified to during the Senate investigation,” saad pa nito.

“With the enlightenment given to us by the counsels of record of Col. Garma, I am urging the Quad Committee, particularly Chairman Abante and Chairman Fernandez, to take the necessary action in order to penalize the perjured statement that Col. Grijaldo gave during the Senate investigation,” pagpapagtuloy pa nito.

Hiniling ni lead committee chairman Rep. Robert Ace Barbers ng Surigao del Norte Barbers sa committee secretariat na isama sa rekord ng komite ang pahayag ng mga abugado.

“Let it be on record that the letter sent to us by the lawyers of Col. Garma attests to the fact that there was no pressure employed in the meeting that was held between Cong. Fernandez and Cong. Abante and Col. Grijaldo,” sabi ni Barbers.

Sinabi ng mga abugado na ninais nilang lumabas upang tugunan ang sinabi ni Grijaldo na pinilit ito na magsalita.

“First and foremost, we wish to clarify that we were called solely to be witnesses or observers during this meeting. Our role was limited to observing the meeting, and we did not engage in any discussions. The dialogue was primarily between Congressman Dan Fernandez and Congressman Abante, who were the only individuals actively speaking,” sabi ng mga abugado.

“The discussions were focused on ensuring clarity and understanding of Colonel Garma’s affidavit, particularly regarding any knowledge Colonel Grijaldo might have about the reward system mentioned in it. At no point did any of the congressmen attempt to pressure Mr. Grijaldo into conforming to a predetermined narrative,” pagpapatuloy ng mga ito.

Sabi pa nila, “Throughout the meeting, we can affirm that we did not witness any form of coercion or undue influence directed toward Mr. Grijaldo. The discussions taking place were cordial and respectful.”

Inilarawan din ng mga abugado sina Fernandez at Abante na propesyunal ang dalawa.

“At no point did we see or hear any actions or statements that could be interpreted as pressuring Mr. Grijaldo to conform to a specific narrative,” sabi ng mga abugado. “Our intention in providing this statement is to clarify the nature of the interactions that occurred and to provide an unbiased and factual account of the events.”

Nauna ng tumestigo sina Garma at retired police Col. Jovie Espenido kaugnay ng reward system sa Duterte drug war.

Ang pondo umano para sa reward ay galing sa intelligence fund, at kita ng iligal na sugal gaya ng jueteng, Philippine offshore gambling operators at small-town lotteries (STL) ng Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.