FORMER Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager and retired PCol. Royina Garma is having second thoughts about leaving the detention center at the Batasan Pambansa Complex in Quezon City due to security concerns.
This is the sentiment expressed by the two chairs of the Quad Committee, Sta. Rosa, Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez, and Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, as the contempt order against Garma is set to expire on October 28, 2024, allowing her to go home.
“She seems somewhat adamant about leaving. She wants to, but at the same time, she doesn’t. It’s like she wants to leave but also doesn’t,” Fernandez stated after their personal conversation with Garma following the 9th hearing of the Quad Comm last Tuesday.
It can be recalled that Garma was cited in contempt on September 20, 2024, for allegedly not telling the truth, leading to a month-long detention at the detention center in the Batasan Pambansa Complex.
Garma has been accompanied by her child in the detention cell since the committee detained her, and on Monday, her contempt order will expire. Lawmakers reportedly asked her where she feels more comfortable, outside or at the Batasan.
“We asked her. Where do you feel safer, and she seemed to be confused,” Fernandez said.
Barbers acknowledged Garma’s concerns for her safety, especially considering her revelations about the war on drugs, particularly the Davao model where police are allegedly paid to kill drug suspects ranging from P20,000 to P1 million per head.
Nevertheless, whatever decision Garma makes after her contempt order will be respected by the committee, especially since she is cooperating with the investigation on the war on drugs, particularly on extrajudicial killings (EJK).
