PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has accepted the resignation of National Police Commission (Napolcom) Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo, who has been linked to, but not charged with, killings during the Duterte administration’s war on drugs. Presidential Communications Secretary Cesar Chavez confirmed the news on Monday.
Leonardo has been implicated by witnesses at House hearings in the 2016 murder of three Chinese drug convicts inside a Davao prison facility and the 2020 killing of former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga. The Philippine National Police (PNP) has reopened the Barayuga case.
Leonardo, a former Criminal and Investigation Detection Group (CIDG) chief who was appointed Napolcom commissioner representing the Law Enforcement Sector, submitted his resignation on October 4. He has denied any involvement in the killings.
This development comes as the Marcos administration faces growing pressure to address human rights concerns related to the previous administration’s drug war. While Leonardo has not been formally charged, his resignation follows a series of investigations and public scrutiny surrounding his alleged involvement in the killings.
The Palace’s acceptance of Leonardo’s resignation is seen by some as a step towards accountability and transparency in the ongoing investigations into the drug war killings. However, critics argue that more needs to be done to ensure justice for the victims and hold those responsible accountable.
