Garma questioned for appointing daughter as PCSO 'confidential agent'

A lawmaker on Friday questioned former General Manager Royina Garma of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) for appointing several of her relatives in the state-run charity corporation.

The appointments included her daughter, who held a position of PCSO "confidential agent."

Laguna Representative Dan Fernandez raised the issue during the ongoing House inquiry on drug war deaths during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Do you know the qualifications of a confidential agent? I will tell you. The qualifications of a confidential agent. One, a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. Two, experience in law enforcement. Did she have any experience in law enforcement? Your daughter?,” Fernandez asked.

Garma, a retired police colonel, replied by saying that she was "not aware" of this.

She, however, maintained that her daughter was "competent in report writing."

"She's very brilliant in communication. In fact, she writes articles in their school when she was in high school,” Garma said.

Above board?

Garma also confirmed that she hired her cousin in the administration department, another cousin as an IT consultant, a cousin-in-law as a private secretary, and another cousin-in-law as a PCSO security detail.

At this point, Fernandez was surprised Garma did not find so many of such appointments as unethical.

“GM Garma, don't you think it's quite unethical for a General Manager to put all mga cousins, daughter, in-laws as part of your circle in the PCSO?,” Fernandez said.

Garma, however, maintained that her actions of appointing relatives were above board.

“The positions that were given to them...the only requirement po is trust and confidence, just like anybody [in an] appointed [post],” Garma added.

Garma is being accused of being involved in a kill order on three Chinese individuals convicted of drug charges and detained in Davao Prison and Penal Farm. 

The kill order was executed back in August 2016, allegedly on the order of former President Rodrigo Duterte. 

—VAL, GMA Integrated News