MANILA, Philippines – National Police Commission (Napolcom) Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo has resigned from his post amid the House of Representatives quad committee’s probe into former president Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war and extrajudicial killings.

Napolcom Vice Chairperson Alberto Bernardo confirmed Leonardo’s resignation during the quad committee hearing on Friday, October 11. Prior to the public announcement, sources already confirmed to Rappler that Leonardo had resigned from his post in a letter dated October 4.

“I was able to read a letter that his resignation had been accepted. I will be getting the official notice, maybe by Monday,” Bernardo told House lawmakers.

In Leonardo’s resignation letter seen by Rappler, he said he resigned “to avoid any suggestion of impropriety on the pending investigation” against him by the Philippine National Police (PNP), which is under the Napolcom.

“I have had the honor of serving the Philippine National Police and the Filipino people since 1992, and I am immensely grateful for the trust and confidence you have bestowed upon me. It has been a great privilege to work alongside dedicated men and women committed to ensuring the safety and security of our nation,” the former commissioner said. “Serving under your administration has been a rewarding experience, and I am proud of the progress we have made together in upholding the rule of law and maintaining peace in our country.”

Who is Leonardo?

Leonardo served under the commission attached to the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

It has the duty to “exercise administrative control and operational supervision over the PNP, with the end in view of ensuring a highly capable, effective and credible police service.” The commission also advises the chief executive on all matters related to the police and “recommends to the president a crime prevention program.”

Leonardo, a retired police colonel, has been named by self-confessed Davao Death Squad (DDS) member Arturo Lascañas as an alleged member of the DDS that supposedly took kill orders from Duterte. Lascañas’ affidavit has already been submitted to the International Criminal Court that currently probes the drug war.

The newly resigned Napolcom commissioner graduated from the PNP Academy in 1996. He served as chief of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit of Davao Region under Duterte and then later as commander of the Manila Police District Moriones Police Station in 2017. He was assigned to the MPD when “nanlaban” killings were rampant in Metro Manila during Duterte’s drug war.

After his retirement in 2020, Leonardo was appointed undersecretary for protected areas and special concerns at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Before Duterte left office, Leonardo was appointed Napolcom commissioner representing the law enforcement sector in February 2022.

Leonardo, who was often on the sidelines, was thrusted into the national spotlight after he was implicated in the quad committee probe. He was first tagged in the killings of three Chinese drug lords in Davao in 2016, along with other officials like Duterte and retired police colonel and former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Royina Garma.

The former Napolcom commissioner, along with Garma, was later implicated in the ambush of PCSO board secretary Wesley Barayuga, who was assassinated in 2020. Leonardo was tagged as the one who gave the kill order to anti-drug cop Police Lieutenant Colonel Santie Mendoza in the guise of an anti-drug operation.

On Friday, Garma revealed that Leonardo was tapped by Duterte to lead the anti-drug operation nationwide after the so-called “Davao template” that rewarded drug war killings under Duterte. Garma said her upperclassman coordinated with other police officers in implementing the operation and processed the reward system in the drug war. – Rappler.com