Affidavit of Royina Garma on Davao Death Squad, cash rewards for killing suspects in Davao

Retired Police Colonel Royina Garma made another revelation at the House QuadComm, this time about the "Davao Death Squad" and her experiences on the cash rewards system for the killing of crime suspects when she was still a police officer in the city.

The following is her addivait:

FULL TEXT

I, ROYINA GARMA, of legal age, single, and currently detained at the House of Representatives, Manila, after having been duly sworn to in accordance with law do hereby depose and say:

1. This Affidavit serves as a supplemental account to the first affidavit I executed on October 11, 2024. It provides a detailed account of my personal observations regarding the financial reward system in Davao and Cebu during my tenure as City Director of both Police Offices.

2. After graduating from training, I was initially assigned to the Police Regional Office XI. In August 1997, I was reassigned to the Davao City Police Office during the administration of Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

3. At the Davao City Police Office, I primarily handled administrative duties; however, in October 1997, I was appointed as the Team Leader of the Anti-Vice Unit.

4. In January 1999, I was appointed Chief of the Women's Desk at the Davao Police Office, succeeding the previous chief who was involved in an ongoing internal investigation. At that time, the mayor was Ben de Guzman.

5. I became aware of the so-called "Davao Death Squad" through various sources during my assignment in Davao. It was common knowledge among officers that almost all station commanders had special teams designated for specific operations. Although I did not know the identities of these teams, a culture of silence prevailed among police officers in Davao regarding such matters.

6. My understanding of these operations was further solidified during my tenure as Station Commander of Sasa and Sta. Ana Police Stations from 2012 to 2016. During this period, I witnessed the existence of a reward system.

7. While I served as Station Commander of Sasa Police Station, I received a call from then PLtcol. Padua, then the intelligence officer of Bato Dela Rosa, who was the City Director of Davao City at that time. The call, which I received around 7:00 AM, informed me of an impending operation in my area of responsibility in Barangay Malagamot. From this communication, I understood the implications of the operation. A few hours later, I learned that a shooting incident had occurred in Malagamot involving a male suspect, which the investigation suggested was a legitimate operation.

8. During my time as Station Commander of Sasa, the Barangay Captain of Barangay Hizon reported to me that "Akyat Bahay" incidents were prevalent in the area. They intercepted one male suspect acting as a spotter. An entrapment operation was planned, resulting in two suspects being caught in the act of stealing. One suspect was wounded and later died at the hospital, while the other escaped. From that operation, I received P 20,000 from Sgt. Suan provided by Boy Alce.

9. Furthermore, during my tenure at Sasa Police Station, a personality identified by the Barangay Captain of Panacan as a drug user and pusher, known for illegal gambling and being a nuisance in their barangay, was killed near GT Gasoline Station in Panacan.."

10. I remember this person because in the morning of the day of his death, the duty desk officer informed me that he went to my office and left an image of the Holy Family, he told my men that he just went to mass and was very happy to present to our office the blessed image.

11. The following day, I inquired with the police investigators about his death and the outcome of their investigation and was informed by PSSGT Suan,"trabaho yun, naka care-of kay Boy Alce." There was never any clearance from my office of this operation nor was my office informed of it.

12. While serving as Station Commander of Sta. Ana Police Station, I also became personally acquainted with the aforementioned reward system From June 2014 to January 2016, we conducted various police operation that resulted in the deaths of suspected drug pushers and hardened criminals.

13. In one particular incident along the coastal area, we monitored habitual "akyat bahay" suspect. One suspect was caught in the act of climbing into another victim's house when my officers called out to him. He was shot during the ensuing confrontation, resulting in his death. For this operation, I received P20,000 from Sonny Buenaventura.

14. There was also an occasion when my office, in collaboration with CIDGb11, conceptualized a "One-Time-Big-Time" operation. This type of operation was outlined in a Comprehensive Operational Plan (COPLAN) and involved an inter-agency approach, incorporating various government agencies, including the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and several PNT units such as the Maritime Unit, CIDG XI, Davao City Police Office Station Commanders, City Mobile Force, and Crime Laboratory), along with Local Government Units (LGUs) for funding, barangay officials, and media representatives as witnesses.

15. The COPLAN was funded by the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Davao. Following the operation, a shooting incident occurred in self-defense, resulting in the death of a suspect. I did not receive any reward for this incident, as my team did not engage in a direct encounter with the suspect.

16. At the end of each month, all station commanders were required to submit reports documenting successful police operations to the LGU of Davao. These reports included details of cases filed in the Office of the Prosecutor and other relevant information concerning the operations. For each case reported, an amount of P5,000 was allocated as a reimbursement for operational expenses. These expenses encompassed buy-bust money (marked money), meals, gasoline, and payments for agents. The disbursement of these funds occurred monthly through Irma Espina aka "muking", and we were required to sign documents acknowledging receipt of payment.

17. For the deaths of suspects, Sonny Buenaventura provided direct payments of P20,000 station commanders, with no signed documentation required.

18. Numerous other incidents resulting in deaths within Davao City occurred of which I remained unaware until after the investigations were completed. A prevailing "culture of silence" was instilled among all Station Commanders and City Directors.

19. I affirm to the truth and veracity of the foregoing statements in order to provide information to the investigation of the Joint Committee on Dangerous Drugs, Public Order and Safety, Human Rights, and Public Accounts of the Honorable House of Representatives (Quad Com).

IN TRUTH HEROF, I  herunto affix my signature this 22nd day of Oct, 2024 at Quezon City

ROYINA GARMA

Affiant