U.S. no safe haven for EJK-linked Garma — House leader

The asylum application of retired police colonel Royina Garma in the United States is unlikely to be granted since she is not being politically persecuted, a House leader said Tuesday, amid ongoing investigations linking her to extrajudicial killings and a reward system under former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.

Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel said Garma is under investigation, not persecution, for her role in the alleged monetary incentive scheme for police officers who killed drug suspects. The program was reportedly modeled after the “Davao template” from Duterte’s time as mayor of Davao City.

“From what I know asylum is being granted to persons who are politically persecuted in their country. I don’t believe that this would apply to Col. Garma considering that she was not politically prosecuted here. She’s involved in heinous crimes,” Pimentel said.

He added that Garma is also being investigated in connection with the murder of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board director Gen. Wesley Barayuga during her tenure as PCSO chair.

Garma has been detained in the US since November 2024 after attempting to enter with a canceled visa. She filed for asylum that same month, according to her lawyer, Emerito Quilang, who said another attorney is handling her application abroad.

The initial asylum hearing, scheduled for 2 April, was canceled, and no new date has been set. Quilang described the US immigration system as "very strict."

Speculation has grown that Garma’s asylum bid is an attempt to evade multiple charges in the Philippines, including her alleged involvement in Barayuga’s ambush, which occurred in July 2020 in Mandaluyong City. Barayuga was reportedly killed while driving a pick-up truck allegedly issued by Garma herself.

Pimentel said that the House quad committee may write a formal letter to the US government to oppose Garma’s asylum application, pending a vote from committee members.

“We will throw this to the committee members, whether it is proper for the committee to write an objection letter to her asylum application. We need to vote on that then we will draft a letter,” he said.

Garma left the country shortly after being released from House detention, following her bombshell testimony alleging that drug war enforcers were paid between P20,000 and P1 million, depending on the prominence of the target.

She was also named as a mastermind — along with former Napolcom commissioner Edilberto Leonardo — in the murder of Barayuga. The accusation came from PLtCol. Santi Mendoza, who admitted in his affidavit to arranging the assassination for P300,000. He claimed Leonardo called him to carry out the operation against a "high-value" target.

The Barayuga case coincided with investigations into alleged corruption and illegal STL operations at the PCSO during Garma’s leadership.

Garma, Leonardo, Mendoza, and two other officers are facing murder and frustrated murder complaints filed before the Department of Justice.

They are also accused of orchestrating the murders of three alleged Chinese drug lords at the Davao Prison and Penal Farm in 2016. Garma and Leonardo were allegedly former members of the Davao Death Squad and closely linked to Duterte.