Ex-Davao prison chief Padilla says Garma ordered him not to interfere in kill ops vs. Chinese inmates

Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Senior Superintendent Gerardo Padilla on Wednesday said that former Police Colonel Royina Garma ordered him not to interfere in the operations against three Chinese inmates convicted of drug offenses.

Padilla, a former chief of the Davao Prison and Penal Farm, stated this in his September 2 affidavit submitted to the four House committees investigating the drug war deaths during the Duterte administration. 

This is contrary to his August 27 affidavit where he claimed that he never talked to Garma, former official of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Davao. 

“Prior to such killings [of three Chinese nationals], I have been subjected to intense pressure by then CIDG Officer Royina Garma who called me up through the cell phone of another inmate Jimmy Fortaleza. Chief Garma told me "may mga tao kami dyan na gagawa at huwag mo na kwestiyonin, and whether you like it or not we will operate and do not interfere, baka madamay pa pamilya mo,” Padilla said in his affidavit 

He said Garma also told him “mag-cooperate ka na lang or mananagot ka sa amin.”

"To my mind, the call from then CIDG Officer Garma was intense pressure and threat to me because I knew for a fact of the operation made against a certain drug lord in Leyte days before she called me,”  Padilla added.

Zambales Representative Jefferson Khonghun then questioned Padilla if Garma’s words meant they were on their way to kill the Chinese inmates.

“Ibig bang sabihin nito, may papatayin sila?” the lawmaker asked.

To which Padilla replied, “Mayroon po, Your Honor (Yes, your honor.).”

Khonghun then pressed Padilla if President Rodrigo Duterte was a factor as to why Garma was so influential to order him around.

Padilla responded by saying, “Marahil, ganon, Your Honor, kasi naging mayor si President Duterte. Kahit na during that time na siya ang deputy CIDG and naging station commander pa po ng isang presinto sa Davao City.”

(Maybe that is the case, Your Honor, because President Duterte is a former Davao mayor, and during that time, Garma was deputy CIDG and station commander of a Davao city police precinct.) 

The four House committees led by House dangerous drugs panel chairperson Ace Barbers of Surigao del Norte earlier warned Garma, who served as Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office General Manager during the Duterte administration, to attend today’s hearing or face arrest.

The House quadcomm already issued a subpoena against Garma, but she is yet to show up in the ongoing investigation.

Barbers, in an earlier statement, also said that Garma may have played a critical role in orchestrating unlawful operations during her tenure with the CIDG in Davao.

“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.We need her testimony to understand fully how these operations were conducted and to hold accountable all those involved,” the lawmaker said.

“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,” he added.

GMA News Online reached out to Garma for comment and will publish as soon as it becomes available. —AOL, GMA Integrated News