Garma lawyer says she applied for asylum in US

The lawyer of retired police colonel Royina Garma on Monday confirmed that she has applied for asylum in the United States.

In an interview at the Department of Justice (DOJ), Atty. Emerito Quilang said Garma filed for asylum in November 2024, following her arrest in the US due to a canceled visa.

“We are asking for a setting because we are requesting for an asylum. But you know, the government, the US government, is very strict," Quilang said.

"That’s why there’s no setting yet of our request, hearing for the request of asylum,” he added.

Quilang said an initial hearing was set for April 2 but this was canceled.

Asked about the grounds for Garma's asylum request, Quilang said he was “not privy” to the case. He said Garma had another lawyer abroad.

Garma left the country after attending several hearings of the House Quad Committee into the Duterte administration’s drug war.

During house hearings, Garma was linked to the killing of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office board secretary Wesley Barayuga, a claim she has denied.

Garma and former NAPOLCOM Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo are now facing complaints for murder and frustrated murder for Barayuga's killing.

Garma during the House inquiry claimed that former President Rodrigo Duterte asked her to look for an officer to implement the Davao model of the war on drugs on a national scale. 

She said the Davao model involved a “system involving payments and rewards.”

According to Quilang, Garma is still in detention in the US.

Quilang said Garma would be released if her asylum request is granted.

“If they will grant, then they will release her from detention. If not granted… most probably if they will use, maybe if there’s an extradition treaty or she may come back voluntarily,” he said.

The lawyer again denied that there is no case filed against Garma in the US. 

Quilang was at the DOJ to attend the preliminary probe on the murder and frustrated murder complaints against Garma and former Napolcom commissioner Edilberto Leonardo in the killing of former PCSO board secretary Wesley Barayuga.

He said that they may file their counter-affidavit on the complaint through e-filing as Garma is not in the country. –NB, GMA Integrated News