Ex-PCSO chief Garma still in US detention facility 鈥� DFA
Former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Royina Garma attends a House of Representatives quadruple committee hearing on crimes linked to Philippine offshore gaming operators and extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administratio on September 27, 2024. — File photo by Niño Jesus Orbeta
MANILA, Philippines — Ex-police colonel and former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Royina Garma is still detained in the United States, a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) official told the House of Representatives.
During the final quad committee hearing held on Monday, DFA Passport Division assistant director Charlie Florian Prenicolas confirmed that Garma is still at a US immigration facility after being detained in San Francisco last November 2024.
“This is confirmed based on the latest information from our Philippine Consulate General in Houston,” Prenicolas told the quad committee.
“Ms. Garma remains in detention at the South Louisiana Immigration and Customs Enforcement Processing Center because detainees are unable to receive calls per US regulations,” he added.
According to Pernicolas, the Philippine consulate has already reached out to US authorities on Garma’s behalf.
“Our consulate in Houston has provided its contact information to ICE (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement) with the request that this be conveyed to Ms. Garma. The consulate was given the assurance that the contact information of the consulate had been relayed to Ms. Garma,” he said.
“And the consulate also has not been contacted yet by Ms. Garma as of today,” he added.
Garma’s removal order, Prenicolas said, is being appealed by the former police official.
“According to the reports from the Philippine consulate and based on the information gathered from our consulate, Mr. Chair, Ms. Garma was issued an expedited removal order upon her arrival in San Francisco which is currently under appeal din po,” he said.
“She was scheduled to appear in court last December 2024 in Louisiana and again, she remains detained at that processing center. That was the only information from our Philippine Consulate,” he added.
Garma and former National Police Commission (Napolcom) commissioner Edilberto Leonardo were identified by Police Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza as the alleged mastermind in the killing of former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga.
During the quad committee hearing last September 27, Mendoza said Leonardo contacted him about operating a high-value drug target in the person of Barayuga, a former police general and a member of the Philippine Military Academy Matikas Class of 1983.
READ: Napolcom’s Leonardo, Garma tagged in killing of PCSO’s Barayuga
Mendoza said Leonardo sent him a synopsis that would show how Barayuga was supposedly involved in the illegal drug trade, but when the former said he would conduct his own study, Leonardo supposedly said that the hit already had Garma’s blessing.
When they were about to carry out the attack, Mendoza said that Leonardo informed them that Barayuga was inside the PCSO office in Mandaluyong, with Garma supposedly sending a photo of the late board secretary. A P300,000 prize money was allegedly set aside for Barayuga’s killing.
Both Leonardo and Garma have denied Mendoza’s claims.
READ: Garma, Leonardo deny masterminding PCSO exec Barayuga’s slay
Also, Garma said at the quad committee hearing last October 11 that Duterte’s administration adopted a “Davao template” in implementing the drug war on a nationwide scale, where officers involved in the killing drug suspects are rewarded.
READ: Garma says Davao drug war template, rewards system applied in entire PH
Garma said there are three modes of payment or reward — first, for every suspect killed; second for the planned operations; and third, the refund of operational expenses. Payments, she said, can range from P20,000 to P1 million.
According to Garma, it was Duterte who contacted her about the creation of a national task force.
Then last October 22, Garma said that Duterte called her up last October 17 — while she was detained at the House premises — to explain why an Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) member was needed for the nationwide task force.
Garma said Duterte pointed out that INC members are known to be careful with handling money — hence such a requirement.
After her contempt order was lifted, Garma went to the United States, and was detained there. According to the Department of Justice, Garma was detained under the Magnitsky Act for possible money laundering and human rights violations, the Department of Justice said on Monday.
The Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act promotes accountability for those acting with impunity. Through the Magnitsky Act, the US government sanctions foreign persons connected to human rights abuse and corruption. /das
