Trillanes claims Supt. Marcos, PNPA ‘96 behind ‘PHL death squad’

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Thursday claimed that some active police officers from the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Class 1996 are part of the so-called “Philippine Death Squad” executing extrajudicial killings (EJKs) as instructed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Citing “senior commanders” of the PNP as his source, Trillanes said Supt. Marvin Marcos, former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Region 8 (CIDG-8) director, was also part of the said group. Marcos is one of the accused in the death of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa.

“Mayroon kaming information na itong grupo nila Supt. Marcos at ilang classmates, ito yung mga nag-e-execute ng extrajudicial killing. Na-identify na 'yung mga pangalan ng kaklase nila na involved sa death squads all over the country,” said Trillanes, without disclosing any other names.

Trillanes alleged this following the downgrading of murder charges against Espinosa and his co-accused to homicide. They were able to walk out of detention on bail last week.

“Sila yung gumagawa ng dirty jobs na 'yung leadership ng PNP is forced to look the other way,” the senator claimed.

Trillanes said the Department of Justice (DOJ) was forced to downgrade the charges to prevent exposing the alleged activities of the supposed death squad.

“Kapag hindi nila pinakawalan yan, mayroon at mayroon nang mag-testigo dyan at sasabihin na teka muna, si President Duterte mismo nag-utos niyan,” he said.

Trillanes also said a certain Supt. Edilberto Leonardo was identified as the “point person” of the group after Duterte won the presidential elections last year.

“Kumabaga ‘yung Sonny Buenavetura nung Davao Death Squad (DDS), ‘yan (Leonardo) 'yung pinaka Sonny Buenaventura nitong Philippine Death Squad ni Duterte,” Trillanes said, referring to Duterte’s former close aide.

Trillanes said Leonardo set up the reward system for the police carrying out EJKs, allegedly similar to the so-called DDS, which is alleged to execute criminals in Davao City.

He said that based on “theories,” the reward for carrying out EJKs is sourced from the government’s intelligence funds and “contributions” for the implementation of the war on drugs.

“Ito ngayon si Leonardo yun, pero buong Pilipinas na yung sakop. They have their own organization within the organization,” he said, adding the Leonardo was a close friend of Duterte’s son, Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte.

Leonardo was one of those named in the complaint filed before the International Criminal Court by lawyer Jude Sabio, and later on supported by Trillanes and Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano in a supplemental complaint.

Leonardo, now assigned to the Manila Police District (MPD), was formerly with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU) of Police Regional Operations, for supposedly helping design and operate the reward system for the war on drugs at the national level. — MDM/RSJ, GMA News