Royina Garma detained in California for cancelled visa — DOJ, DILG

Retired Police Colonel Royina Garma has been held by authorities in California for cancelled visa, Philippine government officials said Tuesday.

Citing reports from the Philippine National Police and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Justice Department said Garma and her daughter were flagged in San Francisco on November 7.

The DOJ said Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla ordered Immigration Commissioner Joel Viado to facilitate Garma's return to the Philippines.

“It is fervently hoped that despite the lifting of her contempt order by Congress, and due to the pending investigations on the matters arising from the congressional hearings, she will still be willing to cooperate and collaborate with the Philippine Government,” the DOJ said.

In a media briefing, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Garma and her daughter were flagged as their visas were cancelled.

“In the course of the hearings ng Senate, her visa was cancelled. So nagbakasakali 'ata siya na pumunta roon, dumating siya sa America,” the DILG chief said.

(In the course of the hearings at the Senate, her visa was cancelled. So she tried her luck and went to America.)

“Ang US Immigration, [Immigration and Naturalization Service], ang US INS ang nag-flag sa kanya. Detained sila and they are in the process of being sent home here, back here in the Philippines,” he added.

(US Immigration flagged her. They are now detained and are in the process of being sent home here, back here in the Philippines.)

The DILG secretary said the two women are expected to be flown to the country on Wednesday.

“Nag-coordinate na ang ating Bureau of Immigration (BI) at ang INS doon. Pag dating dito, didiretso siya balik sa Senate kasi Senate witness ‘yan eh,” he said.

(The BI has coordinated with the INS. Once here, she will be sent to the Senate because she’s a Senate witness.)

“She’s actually not been charged with any crime. She’s actually a state witness. So wala talaga siyang— pero she has to be detained again in the Senate,” he added.

(She has not been charged with any crime. She’s actually a state witness. So she has no reason to be— but she has to be detained again in the Senate.)

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Remulla clarified that Garma is not mandated to stay with the government upon her return to the country,

“She can. But we will offer her protection and we will make sure that she is in contact with us. Because we have to avoid incidents like this,” he said in a separate ambush interview.

He said that the government will still study if Garma can become a state witness.

“Pag-aaralan pa ‘yan eh. Kasi maraming anggulo ‘yung mga kasong ‘yan,” he said.

(We must first look into that. Because this case has many angles.)

In September, the House Quad Committee cited Garma in contempt. It later lifted the contempt order against her.

However, the QuadComm released Garma from detention on November 4, according to lead chairperson and Surigao del Norte Representative Ace Barbers.

During house hearings, Garma was accused of ordering the killing of  former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga, a claim she has denied.

It was also Garma who claimed that former President Rodrigo Duterte asked her to look for an officer to implement the Davao model of the drug war on a national scale.

Garma said the Davao model referred to a “system involving payments and rewards.”

For his part, Duterte denied that a reward system was implemented during the drug war.—AOL/RF, GMA Integrated News