Ex-PNP official Garma skips House hearing due to neck, ear pain

Retired police colonel Royina Garma on Thursday failed to attend a hearing in the House of Representatives as she was reportedly suffering from neck and ear pain.

“We have received a copy of [an] excuse letter coming from Miss Royina Garma with regards to her request for medical checkup as she suffering from a pain left neck and lower ear,” House Committee on Public Accounts chairperson Abang Lingkod party-list Representative Joseph Stephen Paduano said during the hearing.

The "Quadcom"—the House committees on dangerous drugs, public order and safety, human rights, and public accounts—has been conducting a probe into extrajudicial killings, illegal drugs, and Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators.

Antipolo Representative Romeo Acop said that Royina should be referred to a government hospital as part of the protocol in House committee hearings.

“The protocol that we follow in so far our committee hearings are concerned is that we get first the opinion of our medical team in this House. After which, if there is a need for the resource persons to be brought to the hospital it should be a government hospital,” he said.

In response, House dangerous drugs panel chairperson Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers ordered the lower chamber’s medical team to bring Royina to a government hospital.

“Comm sec, you are directed to coordinate, ask the medical director of the House of Representatives to closely coordinate with a government hospital and bring Colonel Garma in a government-operated hospital,” Barbers said.

On September 12, the Quadcom cited retired police officer Royina Garma in contempt after she refused to provide a categorical answer to the query as to whether she has a close relationship with Duterte.

Davao Prison and Penal Farm head Gerardo Padilla told lawmakers that Garma ordered him via phone call not to interfere in the operations against three Chinese inmates convicted of drug offenses.

Garma has denied the allegation. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News