House cites ex-police Col. Garma for contempt over Duterte ties

Former police Col. Royina Garma was cited for contempt by a House quad-committee for allegedly lying and giving evasive answers regarding her ties to former President Rodrigo Duterte.

The contempt citation was moved by Abang Lingkod party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano after Garma repeatedly gave inconsistent answers about her relationship with Duterte.

Garma initially denied being close to Duterte but later changed her statement, saying, "Perhaps, Mr. Chair, I'm special."

Following the contempt motion, Garma became emotional and cried, appealing for the order to be overturned so she could attend to her daughter who had attempted suicide three times.

Lawmakers urged her to file a motion for reconsideration and submit her daughter's medical certificates.

Garma was ordered to stay indefinitely at the House of Representatives detention facility until the probe on alleged interconnected issues of extrajudicial killings, illegal drugs, money-laundering, and POGOs is terminated.

She was invited to the hearing due to her alleged link to the killing of three Chinese nationals detained at the Davao Prison and Penal Farm in August 2016.