The House quad committee will investigate the alleged use of the Philippine National Police (PNP) diplomatic channel by former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Royina Garma to send millions of pesos to her ex-husband, a former police attaché in the United States.
The committee is questioning why Garma sent a significant amount to her former husband, Police Colonel Roland Vilela.
During the committee hearing on September 27, evidence surfaced regarding the alleged use of the PNP diplomatic pouch to transfer substantial sums to Vilela, who served as a police attaché at the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles, California, between 2020 and 2022.
The PNP diplomatic pouch is officially designated for communication and salary transfer of attachés.
Antipolo City 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop inquired of PNP officials, including former Directorate for Intelligence head and now PNP Chief Benjamin Acorda Jr., if such channels could be misused for personal gain.
Acorda admitted that there are instances where additional funds for police attachés could be facilitated through the diplomatic pouch.
Acop also asked if the pouch could be used for personal transfers disguised as official transactions.
Acorda confirmed it was possible.
Acop further questioned Vilela on whether he received money through the diplomatic pouch aside from his official salary.
He also interrogated Police Captain Delfinito Anuba, who allegedly facilitated the currency exchange of pesos to dollars for Vilela.
Anuba stated that Vilela instructed him to exchange money, which was given to him by Sergeant Enecito Ubales Jr.
The committee has yet to determine the purpose of the money sent to Vilela, and it continues to gather documents and information.
Garma is at the center of the investigation due to her close ties to former President Rodrigo Duterte and her role in the implementation of the previous administration’s bloody war on drugs.
Self-confessed DDS hitman Arturo Lascañas named Garma as one of the early members of the DDS and alleged that she led a group of hitmen.
Lascañas is cooperating with the International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding its investigation into Duterte’s war on drugs.
Garma has denied all allegations against her.
