Ex-cop Garma asks lawmakers to reverse contempt citation | ABS-CBN
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Ex-cop Garma asks lawmakers to reverse contempt citation
Ex-cop Garma asks lawmakers to reverse contempt citation
MANILA — Former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager and former police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) officer Royina Garma pleaded with lawmakers to withdraw her citation for contempt during the House Quad Committee hearing, Thursday.
The hearing was set to be suspended before 10 p.m. when Garma requested to be recognized.
The hearing was set to be suspended before 10 p.m. when Garma requested to be recognized.
Lawmakers, who earlier decided to detain her at the House of Representatives for allegedly lying and evading questions, granted her request.
Lawmakers, who earlier decided to detain her at the House of Representatives for allegedly lying and evading questions, granted her request.
Garma, who became emotional, insisted that she was telling the truth when House Committee on Public Accounts Chairperson and Abang Lingkod Representative Joseph Stephen Paduano questioned about her recent travel to the United States.
Garma, who became emotional, insisted that she was telling the truth when House Committee on Public Accounts Chairperson and Abang Lingkod Representative Joseph Stephen Paduano questioned about her recent travel to the United States.
“I’m telling the truth, Mr. Chair, on my mother’s grave. Iyong travel ko sa States, sinabi ko na po ang totoo. I don’t even know the answer why my visa was invalidated,” she said.
“I’m telling the truth, Mr. Chair, on my mother’s grave. Iyong travel ko sa States, sinabi ko na po ang totoo. I don’t even know the answer why my visa was invalidated,” she said.
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Garma said that she initially planned to travel with her daughter to the US, but they were unable to proceed when her US visa was invalidated just as they were about to board a connecting flight in Japan.
Garma said that she initially planned to travel with her daughter to the US, but they were unable to proceed when her US visa was invalidated just as they were about to board a connecting flight in Japan.
“I’m not lying… You can validate that, magtanong kayo sa Japan, they did not give me the exact answer,” Garma said.
“I’m not lying… You can validate that, magtanong kayo sa Japan, they did not give me the exact answer,” Garma said.
“I have a daughter waiting for me,” she pleaded.
“I have a daughter waiting for me,” she pleaded.
However, Dangerous Drugs Committee Chair and Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers reminded Garma that her travel to Japan and US was not the only issue being questioned by the lawmakers.
However, Dangerous Drugs Committee Chair and Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers reminded Garma that her travel to Japan and US was not the only issue being questioned by the lawmakers.
“You appear to be evading the questions that he is asking. That is the reason why you were cited in contempt,” he said.
“You appear to be evading the questions that he is asking. That is the reason why you were cited in contempt,” he said.
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“You were evading questions from the very start by the members of this committee, not because of my question about your US travel,” Paduano also told Garma.
“You were evading questions from the very start by the members of this committee, not because of my question about your US travel,” Paduano also told Garma.
The Quad Committee was unable to decide whether to lift Garma's contempt citation, as the House had lost quorum by that time.
The Quad Committee was unable to decide whether to lift Garma's contempt citation, as the House had lost quorum by that time.
“The recourse left for the gentle lady is either she files a motion for reconsideration or she goes to the court,” said House Committee on Games and Amusement Vice Chairperson and Antipolo City 2nd District Representative Romeo Acop.
“The recourse left for the gentle lady is either she files a motion for reconsideration or she goes to the court,” said House Committee on Games and Amusement Vice Chairperson and Antipolo City 2nd District Representative Romeo Acop.
House Committee on Public Order and Safety Chairperson and Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez, however, moved that Garma’s daughter be allowed to accompany her at the House detention facility.
House Committee on Public Order and Safety Chairperson and Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez, however, moved that Garma’s daughter be allowed to accompany her at the House detention facility.
“We sympathize with you PCol. Royina Garma, but of course, we have already decided….We will be asking the sergeant-at-arms to fetch ‘yung anak niya, para to be with her, para at least makita natin ang kalagayan ng kanyang anak,” Fernandez said.
“We sympathize with you PCol. Royina Garma, but of course, we have already decided….We will be asking the sergeant-at-arms to fetch ‘yung anak niya, para to be with her, para at least makita natin ang kalagayan ng kanyang anak,” Fernandez said.
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Garma will remain in detention at the House of Representatives until the Quad Committee concludes its inquiry, or if the House or a court overturns the contempt citation.
Garma will remain in detention at the House of Representatives until the Quad Committee concludes its inquiry, or if the House or a court overturns the contempt citation.
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