THE House Quad Committee on late Thursday afternoon ordered the detention of former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Royina Garma after citing her in contempt for repeatedly evading questions from lawmakers and providing unclear answers during the hearing.
Garma, a retired police colonel, was implicated by at least four resource persons as the individual who allegedly relayed instructions from former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to execute three suspected Chinese drug lords inside the Davao Prison and Penal Farm (DPPF) in 2016, at the onset of the previous administration’s bloody war on drugs.
The killings of the Chinese prisoners, as corroborated by several witnesses, are cited as evidence of the widespread extrajudicial killings linked to the Duterte administration’s controversial anti-drug campaign.
On a motion by Abang Lingkod Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano, chair of the House Committee on Public Accounts, the quad committee cited Garma in contempt under Section 11(c) of the House Rules of Procedure Governing Inquiries in Aid of Legislation.
The joint panel, following a motion by 1-Rider Party-list Rep. Rodge Gutierrez ordered the detention of Garma at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City after Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez, another co-chairman of Quad Comm, bared that the detention facility of the House of Representatives is full.
Later, Gutierrez amended his motion by detaining Garma at the House of Representatives after 1Rider Party-list Rep. Bonifacio Bosita proposed that the former PCSO general manager be sent to the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Quezon City.
Later, the Quad Comm moved Garma’s detention to the Batasan Complex until the investigation is concluded.
Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, chair of the committee on dangerous drugs and overall head of the Quad Committee, clarified that Garma could be released from detention if she decides to cooperate in the probe.
“If she changes her mind and she suddenly cooperates, then the committee will be more than willing to accommodate her motion for reconsideration,” Barbers said.
During his interpellation, Paduano expressed frustration over Garma’s responses regarding her relationship with former President Duterte and her swift appointment to the PCSO shortly after retiring from the police force in 2019.
Paduano pointed out that despite numerous qualified applicants, Garma secured the highly sought-after PCSO post in record time.
Garma was repeatedly asked about her closeness to Duterte, initially hesitating and offering uncertain answers, which prompted Paduano to demand a direct response.
“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 pressed.
In response, Garma claimed, “Mr. Chair, I’m not close. Na-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.
However, Paduano remained unconvinced, citing her series of prime assignments after that period.
“But after that, lahat na position mo juicy… Palipat-lipat ka doon sa Davao. You cannot be deployed as CIDG in Region 7 if you’re not close to the President,” he asserted.
In the final exchange, Paduano moved to cite Garma for contempt, accusing her of deliberately avoiding 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.
At least four resource persons, including self-confessed hitmen Leopoldo “Tata” Tan Jr. and Fernando “Andy” Magdadaro, have identified Garma as the one who directly gave instructions or coordinated the operation to eliminate the Chinese nationals.
Other witnesses include former DPPF warden Supt. Gerardo Padilla and Garma’s classmate at the Philippine National Police Academy, former policeman Jimmy Fortaleza.
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