Former PCSO general manager Royina Garma during the House quad committee hearing on October 11, 2024. SCREENGRAB FROM HOR LIVE STREAMING
MANILA, Philippines — Retired police colonel Royina Garma said restoring the trust of the people to the Philippine National Police (PNP) is one reason why she revealed the real stories behind the past administration’s brutal drug war during Friday’s House quad committee hearing.
Garma, also a former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager, revealed to the quad committee that the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte implemented a reward system for police officers who would carry out killings of those included in the drug list.
The reward system, similar to the “Davao template,” ranged from P20,000 to P1 million per hit.
“I realize the truth will always set us free, Mr. Chair, and at least I will be able to contribute if we really want to make this country a better place to live and for our children,” Garma answered when asked by Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez on what forced her to tell the truth.
READ: Garma bares monetary reward range under ‘Davao drug war template’
“I think we have to do something to bring back the trust to PNP and for PNP to have a reform,” Garma said in a mix of Filipino and English.
Garma said it took her a week of contemplating before saying the truth to the quad committee. When asked by Fernandez if she was forced to execute the affidavit, she answered: “Wala po, Mr. Chair, it took me one week to make some reflections.”
Fernandez then pointed out Garma saying she fears for her and her family’s safety, to which the lawmaker asked: “Kanina po may sinasabi kayo na natatakot kayo sa buhay niyo at sa pamilya niyo. Saan po kayo natatakot?” (You were saying earlier that you are fearing for you and your family’s life. What are you scared of?)
Garma responded that fear comes along in speaking the truth, adding that “[i]t’s normal, Mr. Chair, when you speak the truth, you cannot please everyone. But still, it took me one week to make reflections, and I realized I need to do my part.”
Further, House Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. echoed Garma’s motivation for a reform of the PNP.
READ: Napolcom’s Leonardo, Garma tagged in killing of PCSO’s Barayuga
“Yes, Mr. Chairman, we are all on the same page. Kaya po natin ginagawa ito para sa taumbayan na maayos ‘yung PNP, mawala ‘yung extrajudicial killings, ‘yung drugs (That’s why we are doing this for the public to fix PNP and for extrajudicial killings and drugs to be gone),” Gonzales said.
Police Lt. Col. Santi Mendoza previously told the quad committee during its seventh hearing that Garma and former National Police Commission commissioner Edilberto Leonardo ordered him to kill PCSO board secretary Wesley Barayuga for P300,000 in July 2020.
Meanwhile, Kerwin Espinosa also revealed in the same quad committee hearing that former PNP chief and incumbent senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa ordered him to implicate former senator Leila de Lima in the illegal drug trade.
In April 2022, Espinosa recanted his allegations against de Lima, saying that they were all false and he was coerced to make the statements.