Columnist and commentator Mon Tulfo said that former President Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Royina Garma were in a romantic relationship.
Tulfo – who was Duterte’s former special envoy to China – made the claim in his column at Abante Tonight last Monday, September 16, after Davao Prison and Penal Farm’s former officer-in-charge Police Col. Gerardo Padilla refused to tell the lawmakers how close Garma was to the former President.
According to Tulfo, Duterte introduced Garma to him at a restaurant in Davao City a few years ago. He added that Garma still wore a uniform at that time.
“Nang pumunta si Garma sa restroom ng restoran, sinabi ko kay Digong na nahalata ko na syota niya si Garma. Sabi ko sa kanya, ‘Bai, alam kong girlfriend mo yan pero pangit man siya,'” Tulfo wrote.
“Natawa na lang si Digong. Aniya, ‘masarap kasing makipagniig sa nakaunipormeng babae’ sa salitang Bisaya niya sinabi sa akin,” he added.
Garma was behind the 2016 execution of three Chinese drug convicts at the Davao Prison and Penal Farm (DPPF), according to Padilla, whose testimony was cited by Tulfo during a hearing before the House Quad-Committee.
Padilla revealed that Garma pressured him to execute the killings, pointing to her close connection with Duterte. However, during the hearing, Padilla chose not to disclose the details of Garma’s relationship with Duterte, opting instead to request an executive session.
Garma allegedly warned Padilla that he must follow her “whether you like it or not, or you’ll be sorry because you will answer to us.”
Despite holding the same rank as Garma at the time, Padilla followed her orders, reportedly due to pressure.
The killings of convicts Chu Kin Tung, Lang Yan, and Wong Meng Pin were allegedly orchestrated to appear as if they were the outcome of a failed drug deal within the maximum-security compound.
At the time, Garma was the chief of the Central Visayas regional command of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) before becoming the general manager of the PCSO.
Before becoming the CIDG chief of Cebu, Garma was the commander of one of the precincts in Davao City. (TCSP)
