MANILA – Retired Police Colonel Royina Garma has been arrested by authorities in California for her cancelled visa, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said.
According to Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Garma and her daughter were flagged in San Francisco on November 7 and are set to be sent home to the Philippines immediately.
“In the course of the hearings ng Senate, her visa was cancelled. So nagbakasakali yata siya na pumunta roon, dumating siya sa America,” Remulla said in a press conference.
“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.
Remulla further said that the Bureau of Immigration has already coordinated with INS for the arrival of Garma and her daughter. Once here, Garma will be sent to the Senate custory.
“Pag dating dito, didiretso siya balik sa Senate kasi Senate witness ‘yan eh,” Remulla said. “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.”
Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla, for his part, clarified that Garma is not mandated to stay with the government upon her return to the country since there are no cases against her.
“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,” Boying said. “Pag-aaralan pa ‘yan eh (state witness). Kasi maraming anggulo ‘yung mga kasong ‘yan.”
During the House of Representatives’ quad com 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 on a national scale the Davao war on drugs model referred to a “system involving payments and rewards.”/PN
