HOUSE PANEL ORDERS DETENTION OF EX-POLICE OFFICIAL GARMA FOR ‘LYING, EVADING QUESTIONS’

The four House committees investigating the deaths related to the drug war during the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte  on Thursday ordered the detention of retired police officer Royina Garma after she was cited in contempt for lying and evading questions from lawmakers.

During the hearing, 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 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 Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, overall head of the quad committee.

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.

 “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.

Garma answered:“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.

She joined the PCSO in July 15, 2019 after retiring from the PNP in June 2019.

Before the inquiry was suspended before 10 p.m., a tearful Garma made a last ditch effort to be released from detention by appealing to the solons that she needs to be present for her daughter, who she said is dyslexic and has a bipolar condition.

“I have a daughter waiting for me who attempted to kill herself three times. I cannot leave her,” Garma said.

House Public Order and Safety panel chairperson Dan Fernandez asked the House sergeant-at-arms to bring Garma’s daughter to the House instead so she could be with her mother.

“I think it is just right for us to bring the child here,” Fernandez said.

Nobody registered opposition to Fernandez’s suggestion, and suspension of the hearing followed.

The hearing will resume on Wednesday next week.