DETAINED. Former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager and retired police colonel Royina Garma attends a House of Representatives investigation on Thursday (Sept. 12, 2024). The House quad committed ordered the detention of Garma for lying and evading questions. (Screengrab)
MANILA – The quad committee of the House of Representatives on Thursday afternoon ordered the detention of retired police colonel Royina Garma after she was cited in contempt for lying and evading questions from lawmakers.
During the hearing on the deaths related to the drug war of the previous administration, the panel approved the motion to detain Garma at the Batasan complex until the investigation is concluded, or until she decides to cooperate in the probe.
Garma was implicated by at least four resource persons as the individual who allegedly relayed instructions from former President Rodrigo Duterte to execute three suspected Chinese drug lords inside the Davao Prison and Penal Farm (DPPF) in 2016.
“If she changes her mind and she suddenly cooperates, then the committee will be more than willing to accommodate her motion for reconsideration,” said Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers, overall head of the quad committee.
During his interpellation, Abang Lingkod Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano expressed frustration over Garma’s responses regarding her relationship with former President Duterte and her swift appointment as the general manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) shortly after retiring from the police force in 2019.
Paduano eventually demanded a direct response from Garma regarding her closeness with Duterte after the retired police official gave uncertain answers.
“I will ask you, are you special and close to the President, former President? Yes or no na po? Walang personal? Yes or no na po?” Paduano said.
In response, Garma said, “Mr. Chair, I’m not close. Nag-floating pa nga ako during his time,” referring to a period when she was temporarily without a position during Duterte’s term as mayor of Davao City.
During the hearing, it was found out that Garma held several police post in Davao City, including as the station commander of Sasa and Sta. Ana in Davao City, being the head of Women’s Desk of the Davao City Police and as a police administration officer of the Davao City police station.
In the final exchange, Paduano moved to cite Garma for contempt, accusing her of deliberately avoiding giving clear answers to the committee’s questions.
Garma was summoned to the hearing to clarify her role in the 2016 killings of suspected Chinese drug lords Chu Kin Tung (a.k.a. Tony Lim), Li Lan Yan (a.k.a. Jackson Li), and Wong Meng Pin (a.k.a. Wang Ming Ping) inside the DPPF.
Garma joined the PCSO in July 15, 2019 after retiring from the PNP in June 2019 with 24 years of service in her record. (PNA)
