By Brian Campued
Department of Justice (DOJ) Sec. Jesus Crispin Remulla on Tuesday has ordered Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Joel Viado to facilitate the return of former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office General Manager and Police Col. Royina Garma from the United States.
According to a report from the Philippine National Police and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Garma and her daughter were detained in San Francisco, California on Nov. 7.
In a statement, Remulla said he hopes that Garma will continue to cooperate fully with the ongoing government investigations stemming from recent Congressional hearings.
“We are committed to seeing justice served in every case and to upholding the integrity of our justice system, especially when it involves our country’s significant issues and concerns,” the DOJ Secretary said.
“While we work to ensure the safe return of Ms. Garma, we trust that she will remain cooperative with all ongoing investigations,” he added.
In one of the hearings of the House Quad-Committee, Garma implicated former President Rodrigo Duterte in orchestrating a nationwide campaign that led to extrajudicial killings during his administration’s war on drugs as well as the alleged reward system for police officers.
—av