THE House of Representatives Quad Committee has issued a stern warning to former PCSO General Manager Royina Garma, a retired police lieutenant colonel to attend the next scheduled hearing or face arrest.
Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, lead chairman of the Quad Committee, noted that they had issued a subpoena to Garma, requiring her to appear before the committee in its ongoing investigation into the cases of extrajudicial killings, illegal drug proliferation, and other related crimes.
Barbers said the Quad Committee, composed of the Committee on Dangerous Drugs, the Committee on Public Order and Safety, the Committee on Human Rights, and the Committee on Public Accounts, has uncovered significant evidence suggesting that Garma may have played a critical role in orchestrating unlawful operations during her tenure with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Davao.
Testimonies presented to the committee have implicated Garma in the extrajudicial killings of three Chinese nationals — Chu Kin Tung, Jackson Li and Wong — who were serving sentences for drug-related offenses at the Davao Prison and Penal Farm.
Witnesses alleged that Garma, leveraging her position in the CIDG, was instrumental in planning and overseeing these targeted killings, which were carried out under the pretense of the government’s anti-drug campaign.
“These are not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern of abuse that we believe Garma had a direct hand in. The gravity of these allegations cannot be overstated,” Barbers said.
“We need her testimony to understand fully how these operations were conducted and to hold accountable all those involved,” he added.
The committee has stressed the importance of Garma’s appearance at the next hearing, scheduled on Tuesday (Sept. 3). Her testimony is seen as vital to clarifying the extent of her involvement and uncovering the whole truth behind these operations. The committee’s subpoena compels Garma to testify, and failure to comply will result in immediate legal consequences.
“If Lieutenant Colonel Garma refuses to attend, we will have no choice but to issue a warrant for her arrest. This is a matter of national importance, and we will not tolerate any obstruction to this investigation,” Barbers stated. “We are committed to ensuring that justice is served, and that means everyone involved must be held to account.”
The Quad Committee has clarified that non-compliance with the subpoena will be met with swift action. If Garma fails to appear, the committee will cite her in contempt, a charge that could lead to her detention until she agrees to cooperate. Additionally, the committee is prepared to seek a court order to enforce the subpoena, ensuring that the investigation proceeds without further delay.
“Refusing to testify would be a serious act of defiance against the rule of law and could be seen as an attempt to hide the truth,” Barbers added. “We have the authority and the resolve to compel her testimony, and we are prepared to use all legal means necessary to ensure her compliance.”
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