Camille Naredo

Former Cebu City Police Office Director PCOL Royina Garma answers questions from the Quad-Committee, which continues its fifth hearing at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on September 12, 2024. 

Former Cebu City Police Office Director PCOL Royina Garma answers questions from the Quad-Committee, which continues its fifth hearing at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on September 12, 2024. Testimonies presented to the committees on Dangerous Drugs, Public Order and Safety, Human Rights, and Public Accounts implicate Garma in the killings of three Chinese nationals, Chu Kin Tung, Jackson Li, and Wong, who were serving sentences for drug-related offenses at the Davao Prison and Penal Farm. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Royina Garma 

Jessie Cruzat

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175750405023020240912-garmay-royina-quadcomm-MT-2 (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Former Cebu City Police Office Director PCOL Royina Garma answers questions from the Quad-Committee, which continues its fifth hearing at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on September 12, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Former Cebu City Police Office Director PCOL Royina Garma answers questions from the Quad-Committee, which continues its fifth hearing at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on September 12, 2024. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- The Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed its limited yet critical role in ensuring the safety of retired police colonel and former PCSO General Manager Royina Garma, who is now serving as a witness in the International Criminal Court (ICC) case against former President Rodrigo Duterte over alleged crimes against humanity linked to the administration’s bloody drug war.</p><p>In an interview with PTV’s Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon, DOJ Spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano clarified that the DOJ is not involved in the substance of the case but is primarily focused on Garma’s protection under the Witness Protection Program (WPP). </p><p>“Actually po, itong role po ng Department of Justice sa ICC case ay limited po sa witness protection. Ang ugnayan po between the Philippine government and the ICC is only through the Witness Protection Program, program director, only matters of protection are discussed,” Clavano said. </p><p>He added that the ICC communicated directly with Garma regarding her statements and affidavits. </p><p>“As for the case po, actually dumediretso po talaga ang ICC kay Ms. Garma doon sa kanyang mga statements at possible affidavits at kaya siguro po ay pinalipad po nila sa Kuala Lumpur para po doon po sila magkita.” </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/8/ex-drug-war-cop-garma-in-malaysia-to-meet-with-icc-officials-remulla-1412"><strong>Ex-drug war cop Garma meets ICC officials in Malaysia, agrees to testify against Duterte: DOJ</strong></a></div><p>Clavano emphasized that the DOJ has no knowledge of the contents of Garma’s affidavit or testimony. </p><p>“Ang inaalam lang po namin yung mga arrangements po nila and to make sure that she is safe and protected here in the Philippines.”</p><div> </div><div><strong>SECURITY MEASURES IN PLACE</strong> </div><p>The DOJ has taken concrete steps to ensure Garma’s safety, given the sensitivity of her position and the potential threat from uniformed personnel implicated in the ICC probe. </p><p>“Itong pagdating po niya last Saturday after she was cleared by immigration dahil po wala naman po siyang warrant of arrest, ay pina-escort po natin ng mga tagi-NBI si former Colonel Garma doon sa kanyang tahanan,” Clavano said. </p><p>He added that when Garma was advised by the ICC to leave the country again for her safety, the DOJ arranged for an NBI escort to the airport.</p><div> </div><div><strong>IMPLICATION ON GARMA’S CASE THE PHILIPPINES</strong> </div><p>Garma is also facing a local criminal complaint filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in connection with the death of Wesley Barayuga. </p><p>“Well, yung kay Wesley Barayuga po, sa tingin po namin, is a part of a whole. Yun pong kaso na yun ay iisa lang, ngunit sa ICC ang kailangan kasi nilang i-prove doon ay isang pattern of widespread killing where they used state machinery,” Clavano said. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/9/-nbi-says-no-basis-to-detain-garma-1738"><strong>NBI says &#x27;no basis&#x27; to detain Garma</strong></a></div><p>“Kaya siguro po if you look at it in the lens of a microscope, itong kaso ni Barayuga ang makikita mo which we are processing and it&#x27;s still under preliminary investigation here in the Department of Justice.” </p><p>Clavano assured the public that Garma’s involvement in the ICC does not hinder the progress of her pending case in the Philippines.</p><div> </div><div><strong>GARMA AS A STATE WITNESS?</strong> </div><p>Asked whether Garma could also become a state witness in local cases, Clavano responded that while the option remains open, certain conditions must be met. </p><p>“Of course, there is always that possibility. Kaya lang po, kailangan niya muna niyang ilatag yung information sa atin ng maganda. There has to be somebody who is more guilty than her in the case dahil isa po yan sa mga requirements para ma-discharge as a state witness,” he explained. </p><p>“So hanggat hindi po siya maglatag ng mga pangalan na mas guilty sa kanya... we cannot consider her as a state witness yet,” Clavano added.</p>

<p>The DOJ confirmed its limited yet critical role in ensuring the safety of retired police colonel and former PCSO General Manager Royina Garma, who is now serving as a witness in the ICC case against former President Rodrigo Duterte.</p>

The DOJ confirmed its limited yet critical role in ensuring the safety of retired police colonel and former PCSO General Manager Royina Garma, who is now serving as a witness in the ICC case against former President Rodrigo Duterte.

DOJ assures protection for Garma as ICC witness vs ex-President Duterte

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DOJ assures protection for Garma as ICC witness vs ex-President Duterte

Jessie Cruzat,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 10, 2025 07:39 PM PHT

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Royina Garma

ICC

crimes against humanity

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