DOJ tasks BI to bring Garma back from US

Royina Garma, former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager and retired police colonel. (Photo: House of Representatives of the Philippines/Facebook)

By Benjamin Pulta, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – The Department of Justice (DOJ) has tasked the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to facilitate the return of former police colonel Royina Garma from the United States.

In a news release on Tuesday, the DOJ noted that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have confirmed that Garma was detained along with her daughter Angelica Garma Vilela in San Francisco, California on Nov. 7. The DOJ did not elaborate on the arrest.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said he has directed Immigration Commissioner Joel Viado to facilitate Garma’s repatriation.

Remulla hopes that Garma will continue to cooperate fully with the ongoing government investigations stemming from recent Congressional hearings.

During the quadcom hearings at the House of Representatives, the former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) official implicated former president Rodrigo Duterte in the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS) and the alleged reward system that incentivized police officers to carry out drug-related killings.

“We are committed to seeing justice served in every case and to upholding the integrity of our justice system, especially when it involves our country’s significant issues and concerns. While we work to ensure the safe return of Ms. Garma, we trust that she will remain cooperative with all ongoing investigations,” Remulla said.

“The cases against her or involving her have not yet been filed, we are still conducting case buildup. In any case, she is considered  a very important witness by the quadcom, that is why we intend to offer her witness protection for that matter, at least for the matter which the quadcom is seeking from her. Of course, there are other things which may not be necessarily in conjunction with what the quadcom has considered.”

Meanwhile, Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon said the newly-created task force on extrajudicial killings (EJKs) would include a reinvestigation into the killing of PCSO board secretary Wesley Barayuga.

A police officer implicated Garma in the assassination of Barayuga in 2020.

“The DOJ remains steadfast in supporting law enforcement and ensuring accountability as part of its mandate to uphold justice and the rule of law,” Fadullon said.