By Junex Doronio

MANILA — The House Quad Committee on Friday, September 27, 2024, cited Police Sergeant Enecito Ubales Jr. in contempt and ordered his detention for allegedly lying about over P50 million in suspicious financial transactions linked to his first cousin, former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Royina Garma, a close associate of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

The Quad Committee is conducting an ongoing investigation into alleged extrajudicial killings (EJKs) connected to Duterte’s controversial war on drugs.

Ubales will be held at the Quezon City Jail until the panel concludes its inquiry.

The decision, led by Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, came after the committee determined that Ubales had been consistently untruthful during the hearings.

During the session, Police Captain Delfinito Anuba testified that Ubales was involved in questionable financial transactions tied to Garma. Anuba claimed Ubales gave him P30 million to convert into U.S. dollars, reportedly on Garma’s instructions. He also stated this was not the first instance, mentioning previous conversions of P20 million and other amounts during Garma’s tenure as PCSO general manager from 2019 to 2022.

According to Anuba, these funds were allegedly sent to Garma’s former husband, Police Colonel Roland Vilela, who was then serving as a police attaché at the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles, California.

Despite Ubales denying the accusations, lawmakers were unconvinced. His repeated denials under oath led to the committee’s motion to hold him in contempt.

The Quad Committee, consisting of members from the Committees on Dangerous Drugs, Public Order and Safety, Human Rights, and Public Accounts, is investigating potential links between Garma’s financial misconduct and extrajudicial killings during Duterte’s anti-drug campaign.

Lawmakers suspect that Garma, a retired police officer, played a significant role in the 2016 killings of three Chinese drug lords inside a Davao prison, allegedly under Duterte’s orders. They believe her appointment as PCSO general manager may have been a reward for her involvement in these activities.

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