Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed Monday that former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager and retired police colonel Royina Garma agreed to testify against former President Rodrigo Duterte in the International Criminal Court (ICC).
This developed as Duterte awaits his confirmation of charges before the chamber initially scheduled on September 23, 2025.
“I think that she (Garma) is the highest-ranking police officer that can be asked to give a narrative about the drug war, the reward system, and other parts of her testimony, which she already gave before in the Quad Comm,” Remulla told reporters.
The DOJ chief said Garma’s testimony has weight because of her direct knowledge of the drug war operation. He also shared that the ICC approached former Senator Antonio ‘Sonny’ Trillanes IV on the possibility of turning Garma into a state witness.
Earlier, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported to the DOJ the departure of Garma yesterday evening, September 7, to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The DOJ chief noted that there was no issue with the trip because she had already met with ICC personnel after returning to the country following the rejection of her asylum request in the United States.
Remulla further explained that the country has no direct relationship with the ICC, which is why Trillanes became a bridge and it is the government’s responsibility to protect witnesses when they are requested by the ICC.
Meanwhile, the DOJ assured that Garma’s case will not be neglected in the country, after he was accused of masterminding the murder of PCSO Board Secretary Wesley Barayuga.
Editor’s Note: Previous editions to this story have been corrected to reflect more accurate details.
