MANILA, Philippines – The House of Representatives mega-panel on Wednesday, August 28, ordered the detention of a Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) official who was invited to its probe into the killing of three alleged Chinese drug lords in Davao in 2016.

As the House mega-panel continues its probe into the drug war, extrajudicial killings, and illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), the committee cited Corrections Senior Superintendent Gerardo Padilla in contempt for refusing to cooperate in the probe. Padilla, who previously served as warden of the Davao Prison, repeatedly evaded the questions of lawmakers during the inquiry on Wednesday.

The last straw was when Abang Lingkod Representative Joseph Stephen Paduano prodded him about the transfer of persons deprived of liberty in the prison, which later led to the deaths of the alleged drug lords, but Padilla still refused to answer. Lawmakers moved and approved the contempt order against the BuCor officer. Padilla will be detained for 30 days in Bicutan, Taguig City, according to the lawmakers.

The House mega-panel, also known as the “quad committee,” is currently probing the killings of Chu Kin Tung, alias Tony Lim; Li Lan Yan, alias Jackson Li; and Wong Meng Pin, alias Wang Ming Ping, who were detained at the maximum security facility of the Davao Prison and Penal Farm in Davao del Norte in 2016. Two persons deprived of liberty, Leopoldo Tan Jr. and Fernando “Andy” Magdadaro, said they were ordered to kill the three Chinese.

Tan alleges that a cop gave him the order to kill the three Chinese drug lords, and Magdadaro helped him in the operation. Padilla was implicated because Tan alleged in his affidavit that he heard Padilla, then-Davao prison acting chief, talking to a person over the phone, who was allegedly former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Tan claimed that Duterte even congratulated Padilla over the phone after the incident.

In a message to Rappler last week, lawyer Salvador Panelo, Duterte’s former spokesperson, said Duterte’s “enemies” are using “convicted felons” to link the former president to the killings, adding that the witnesses “have nothing to lose since they are jailed for life.” – Rappler.com