Retired police Colonel Royina Garma becoming a state witness is up to the Department of Justice (DOJ), according to House dangerous drugs panel chairperson and Surigao del Norte representative Robert Ace Barbers on Sunday.
“Siguro titimbangin muna ng DOJ ‘yung kanyang ini-reveal niyang information kung qualified ba siya to be state witness or to be a beneficiary of the witness protection program ng ating gobyerno,” Barbers said over an interview with Super Radyo DzBB.
(The DOJ would probably weigh the information she revealed if she is qualified to be a state witness or to be a beneficiary of the government’s witness protection program of our government.)
The solon said the Justice Dept. would have to examine if Garma’s affidavit would qualify her as a state witness.
“(The DOJ is) doing their own investigation, yung kanyang interview sa mga witnesses na nagbigay ng testimonya before the Quad Committee. Ganun din siguro ang mangyayari kay Garma effective siguro by this week. Meron din siyang interview for preliminary investigation siguro,” Barbers said.
(They’re doing their own investigation, their interview with the witnesses that gave testimonies before the Quad Committee. That may also be the case with Garma effective maybe by this week. She will also have an interview for a preliminary investigation.)
Garma’s preliminary investigation is in connection with the assassination of former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga. Garma was appointed PCSO general manager after she retired from the Philippine National Police.
Barbers shared his sentiments after Garma confirmed that up to P1 million cash rewards were paid for each killing in the war on drugs waged by the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
Garma earlier revealed that Duterte asked her to look for an officer who would implement the Davao model of the war on drugs on a national scale where police are rewarded for killing drug suspects.
“Hindi naman ibig sabihin si Garma nagbigay ng testimony at sworn statement sa Quad Comm eh paniniwalaan namin yan,” Barbers said. “Of course itong pag-aaralan ng mabuti, titimbangin kung ano ba dapat ma consider based sa circumstantial evidence na nakukuha din ng Quad Comm,” Barbers said.
(It doesn’t mean that Garma gives testimony and a sworn statement to the Quad Comm, we’re going to instantly believe her. Of course, we will examine it thoroughly and weigh what should be considered based on the circumstantial evidence that is also obtained by the Quad Comm.)
Garma also said Senator Christopher “Bong” Go and National Police Commission commissioner Edilberto Leonardo were among those involved in the implementation of the campaign.
Former presidential chief legal counsel and spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte would attend the Quad Comm hearings if the members would ask “educated questions.”
“FPRRD hasn’t received any invitation yet,” Panelo said in a statement.
“In his press conference in Davao he would attend if invited with one condition : The members of the committee should ask educated questions and not irrelevant, stupid and private invasive queries,” he added.
Duterte has been invited to attend the House drug war probe but repeatedly declined to present himself.
—RF, GMA Integrated News
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