Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte said he is willing to help former Mandaluyong City Police chief Colonel Hector Grijaldo, who is allegedly being investigated by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) following his claims that two co-chairpersons of the House Quad Committee directed him to confirm the existence of a reward system during the war on illegal drugs campaign of the Duterte administration.
“Kung ipitin ‘yon, wala ‘yung sweldo, magdadagdag ako. Sabihan ninyo ako, mag-aambag ako. Let’s make it a real thing. Dapat gawin talaga natin ‘yon. Pag inipit si Col. Grijaldo padalhan natin ng pagkain ang pamilya. Lahat—pagkain, pera, tuition ng mga anak. Gawin talaga natin ‘yon. Ipakita natin na kahit maliit lang kami, lalaban kami,” Duterte said during the “Basta Dabawenyo” podcast.
According to reports, Grijaldo will be facing charges following his confession that Congressmen Dan Fernandez of the Lone District of Sta. Rosa, Laguna and Congressman Bienvenido Abante of the 6th District of Manila pressured him to confirm the supplemental affidavit of retired Col. Royina Garma pertaining to the drug war reward system.
The mayor said he believes Grijaldo’s claims are true as what the latter did would do him more harm than good.
“Ibig sabihin nun kahit masasaktan siya or pangit yung kalalabasan sa sinabi niya lang talaga, probably, kasi kailangan niyang sabihin and yun yung totoo. Ito namang dalawang congressman (Abante and Fernandez) magdi-deny it would do them more good than harm so tingin ko dini-defend nila yung sarili nila. Yung sa pulis na sinabi versus sa sinabi ng mga congressman, mas maniniwala ako sa pulis. Kasi wala naman siya makukuha doon sa sinabi niya talaga,” Duterte said.
Duterte added that the issue against Abante and Fernandez should not stop after their interview with Karen Davila saying the Marcos administration is fond of doing a diversion after every issue.
“Sana dapat huwag titigilan. Ang style kasi ng administrasyon ngayon pag nagkakamali sila gumagawa sila ng diversion, gagawa sila ng bagong isyu, kasi hawak nila yung mainstream media. So why not let mainstream media look into this?” he said.
