Ex-Cebu City police chief detained after being cited for contempt in House hearing

FORMER Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Chief Royina Garma was ordered detained by the House of Representatives for allegedly being evasive during an inquiry into the Duterte administration's drug war.

The House quad committee, tasked with investigating extrajudicial killings, ordered Garma’s detention after she failed to provide clear answers regarding her role in the 2016 killings of three convicted Chinese drug lords.

During the hearing, Garma, also a former general manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, repeatedly denied having a close relationship with former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Abang Lingkod Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano suggested that Garma’s close ties with the former president might explain her swift appointment as PCSO general manager in 2019.

Garma had served as police chief in Davao City and later led the police force in Cebu City before Duterte tapped her to head the PCSO, despite her lack of experience in the charity agency.

At the time, Garma had recently retired from the Philippine National Police (PNP) after 24 years of service.

Garma’s time as Cebu City police chief was marked by the city's inclusion as a hotspot in Duterte's drug war, where numerous drug-related killings took place. Her tenure in Cebu and her previous roles in Davao, where Duterte was long-time mayor, raised questions about her connection to the president.

During the hearing, Paduano pressed her to explain whether her relationship with Duterte had played a role in her PCSO appointment.

However, Garma tearfully insisted that she was not “special” to the former president, even recalling that she had been placed in a floating status during his time as Davao mayor.

Tensions rose as Paduano accused Garma of lying and evading questions, prompting him to move for her citation in contempt.

The committee, led by Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, approved the motion, resulting in Garma’s immediate detention.

Witnesses, including Police Colonel Gerardo Padilla, the former warden of the Davao Prison and Penal Farm, and confessed hitman Arturo Lascañas, have implicated Garma in the extrajudicial killings carried out under Duterte’s drug war.

Padilla testified that Garma had pressured him not to interfere in the execution of Chinese drug lords Chu Kin Tung, Li Lan Yan, and Wong Meng Pin in 2016. Lascañas also identified Garma as part of the Davao Death Squad, a group accused of carrying out Duterte's orders to eliminate suspected criminals.

Additionally, Garma recently revealed that U.S. authorities had canceled her visa during a trip to Japan, raising speculation that she may have been targeted under the U.S. Magnitsky Act, which sanctions individuals involved in human rights abuses.

Garma linked the cancellation to her alleged involvement in Duterte's drug war, as she was named in filings submitted to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Despite her tearful plea to be released, lawmakers held firm on their decision to keep Garma in detention.

Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez suggested that Garma’s daughter be allowed to stay with her in the House detention facility, but the committee did not lift her contempt citation.

Garma will remain in custody until the investigation concludes or she provides satisfactory answers to the committee, the lawmakers agreed.(MyTVCebu)

• Tags
• #Royina Garma
• #Cebu City Police Office
• #House of Representatives
• #Duterte Administration
• #House Qud Committee
• #Philippine Drug War
• #Rodrigo Duterte
• #Contempt