‘Grand conspiracy’ seen in killing of Chinese drug lords

MANILA, Philippines — Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel believes there was a “grand conspiracy” involving the killing of Chinese nationals detained for drug-related offenses during the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte.

Pimentel made the allegations during last Thursday’s hearing of the House quad committee on suspected links in the assassination of incarcerated Chinese nationals, extrajudicial killings, the drug war and Philippine offshore gaming operators during the previous administration.

“I believe that this is a great conspiracy, it’s a grand conspiracy coming from the top to the bottom officials,” Pimentel said while throwing questions to Leopoldo Tan Jr., one of two self-confessed hitmen who claimed that Duterte issued kill orders for three convicted Chinese drug lords inside the maximum-security facility of the Davao Prison and Penal Farm (DPPF) in 2016.

Tan and fellow hitman Fernando Magdadaro testified at the hearing and implicated several police officials, including SPO4 Arturo Narsolis, Lt. Col. Royina Garma and Supt. Gerardo Padilla, then warden of DPPF.

Pimentel moved to incite the persons mentioned by the two witnesses and it was approved by the committee.

He said there is a “disturbing pattern of killings,” citing that out of 32 Chinese nationals detained for drug offenses, only three were at DPPF, while the other 29 reportedly died in various detention centers.

“This just shows, Mr. Chair, that there was really a pattern, systematic killing of Chinese drug lords in different detention centers,” he noted.

To substantiate his claims, Pimentel requested a comprehensive list from the Bureau of Corrections of Chinese nationals who died while in detention for drug-related charges in 2016 and 2017.

Pimentel painted a picture of a well-orchestrated plot that extended to multiple detention centers across the country, suggesting that these deaths were sanctioned at the highest levels of government.

“It was all over the country. That is hard to execute – to kill the Chinese nationals detained in various prisons if there is no direct approval from the administration,” he added.