LAWMAKER CALLS GARMA A ‘RUTHLESS KILLER DISGUISED AS A MEEK LAMB’

By Junex Doronio

MANILA – Don’t be deceived by appearances.

This was the sentiment of a veteran lawmaker on Friday, describing retired police colonel and former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Royina Garma as a “ruthless killer” who hides behind an innocent facade to commit heinous crimes.

Surigao del Sur 2nd District Rep. Johnny Pimentel made the statement after two witnesses testified before the House Quad Committee, accusing Garma of masterminding the July 2020 murder of PCSO board secretary and retired police general Wesley Barayuga.

“Mr. Chair, Col. Garma is a woman disguised as a meek lamb, but deep inside, she is a ruthless killer, murdering innocent people without mercy or remorse, especially during the war on drugs,” Pimentel said during the seventh hearing of the mega-panel investigating extrajudicial killings (EJKs) linked to the Duterte administration’s brutal anti-drug campaign.

Police Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza testified that Garma ordered Barayuga’s assassination for P300,000. Retired Police Cpl. Nelson Mariano corroborated this claim, stating he was responsible for recruiting the hitman.

Mendoza said the plot began in October 2019 when Police Col. Edilberto Leonardo approached him with a “special project” to eliminate Barayuga and falsely implicate him in drug-related activities. Mendoza initially hesitated but felt compelled to comply due to Garma’s known close ties with then-President Duterte.

During his interpellation, Pimentel alleged that Garma orchestrated Barayuga’s murder to stop him from exposing corruption within the PCSO.

“The motive behind General Barayuga’s murder was to prevent him from testifying against Col. Garma. That’s the truth, Mr. Chair,” Pimentel told the committee, chaired by Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers.

Pimentel further accused Garma of orchestrating several other killings, citing multiple witnesses and evidence presented to the committee. At least four witnesses implicated Garma in ordering the killings of three suspected Chinese drug lords at a Davao prison in 2016, early in Duterte’s drug war.

Former President Duterte was also linked to these killings, allegedly congratulating prison warden Supt. Gerardo Padilla after hitmen Leopoldo “Tata” Tan Jr. and Fernando “Andy” Magdadaro executed the three Chinese inmates: Chu Kin Tung, Li Lan Yan, and Wong Meng Pin. These murders are seen as part of the larger pattern of EJKs during the drug war.

Pimentel also highlighted that during Garma’s tenure in Cebu City, 198 killings were recorded, according to former Mayor Tommy Osmeña.

“And now, it is clear that the mastermind behind General Barayuga’s murder is Col. Garma, in cooperation with Col. Leonardo, based on the testimony of our two resource persons,” Pimentel added.

He urged the committee to recommend the filing of murder charges against Garma and Leonardo in its report.

Pimentel stressed that Barayuga’s murder was linked to his role in exposing corruption at the PCSO, particularly in the Small Town Lottery (STL) operations. At the time of his death, Barayuga was working with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on a probe into PCSO corruption.

Citing then-NBI officer-in-charge Eric Distor, Pimentel said Barayuga was “prepared with all the documents” and ready to testify against illegal activities in the PCSO.

Pimentel also pointed out that Garma provided Barayuga with the vehicle used on the day of his assassination, making him an easier target.

“The pickup [van] that General Barayuga was using was given by Col. Garma to ensure he could be identified, as Barayuga didn’t own a vehicle. Garma provided this information to Nelson Mariano, including the plate number and description on the day of the killing,” Pimentel said.

Barayuga was shot by an unidentified gunman on a motorcycle around 3:30 p.m. on July 30, 2020, while heading home from the PCSO office in Mandaluyong City.

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