Why would former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Royina Garma send millions of pesos, converted to dollars, to her ex-husband in the United States using the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) diplomatic channels?
This is the burning question lawmakers are determined to answer as the House Quad Comm intensifies its probe into Garma, a retired police colonel perceived to be close to former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
Garma is implicated in allegations of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) that occurred during the previous administration’s brutal war on drugs.
During the committee’s Sept. 27 hearing, new details emerged about Garma's alleged misuse of diplomatic channels to send millions of pesos to her former husband, Police Colonel Roland Vilela, while he was serving as police attaché at the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles, California between 2020 and 2022.
These revelations suggest possible misuse of government resources, specifically the PNP’s diplomatic pouches intended for official communications and attaché salaries, with testimony from PNP officials indicating these channels may have been exploited for personal financial gain.
Antipolo City 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop’s sharp questioning of former and current PNP officials, including then-chief of the Directorate for Intelligence and later PNP chief Benjamin Acorda Jr., revealed the possibility that the PNP’s diplomatic pouch system was used to funnel “personal” funds to Garma’s ex-husband.
Acorda confirmed that police attaché salaries and Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) were regularly sent through these channels. "Yes, Your Honor. Especially if there are some special occasions or visits and additional expenses that are incurred by our police attachés," Acorda explained.
Acop pointed out the system's vulnerability to misuse, asking if it could be used for personal transfers disguised as official ones. “Personal na padala pupuwede, would that be correct?” Acop asked, to which Acorda hesitantly responded, “Yes, Your Honor, to my understanding.”
Acop then questioned Vilela, who admitted receiving more than just his official salary through the diplomatic pouch.
“Kanino galing iyong hindi kasama sa suweldo mo at MOOE na natatanggap mo through the diplomatic pouch?” Acop asked. Vilela responded, “Iyong sahod ko po na dito, Your Honor,” referring to the P120,000 he received monthly in the Philippines, in addition to the USD8,000 he earned as a police attaché.
Vilela’s admission raised further suspicion, prompting Acop to press harder to determine if the extra money came from personal sources.
This led to the testimony of Police Captain Delfinito Anuba, Vilela’s errand man, who was responsible for converting pesos into dollars and sending them to Vilela in the U.S.
Anuba revealed the extent of these transactions, confirming that he was instructed by Vilela to convert large sums into U.S. dollars and send them via diplomatic channels.
When asked if he had converted pesos to dollars, Anuba confirmed, “Yes, Sir,” and detailed the process, explaining that he collected the funds from Garma’s security team, specifically Sergeant Enecito Ubales Jr.
Ubales is Garma’s first cousin.
“Saan mo naman kukunin iyong peso na iko-convert mo sa dollars?” Acop inquired. Anuba responded, “Sa PCSO building, Sir… Mga security po ni GM [Garma], Sir.”
Anuba revealed that he converted P30 million and P20 million into dollars on two occasions. Asked how often these transactions occurred, Anuba said, “Dalawang beses lang po akong nagpapalit ng malaki,” but admitted to making smaller exchanges more frequently.
This testimony brought Garma’s cousin and security detail, Ubales, into focus. Ubales denied involvement, but Acop moved that he be cited for contempt after he contradicted Anuba’s account.
“May katotohanan ba iyong sinabi niya [Anuba]?” Acop asked. Ubales denied it, to which Acop responded, “Mas paniniwalaan ko ito [Anuba]. Sinungaling ka rin, eh.”
The mega-panel has since ordered Ubales’ detention at Quezon City Jail until the investigation concludes.
Despite these revelations, the questions of where the money came from and why it was sent to Vilela remain unanswered. The Quad Committee is now focused on uncovering the source of these funds.
The probe on Garma is significant given her deep connections to former President Duterte. She served in various roles in Davao City, including as head of the anti-vice unit, chief of the women’s desk and station commander.
Duterte worked closely with her during his time as mayor, particularly when she was with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, where she played a key role in anti-illegal drug operations.
This relationship raises more questions about her influence within the PNP and, later, her appointment as PCSO chief in 2019 after early retirement from police service. Garma left the PCSO in 2022.
Lawmakers have also learned that Duterte’s long-time aide, now Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, facilitated Garma’s application for the PCSO post.
At least four witnesses have implicated Garma in giving orders to kill three suspected Chinese drug lords at a Davao prison in 2016 during the early stages of Duterte’s drug war. These killings were allegedly part of the widespread EJKs linked to Duterte's anti-drug campaign.
Witnesses also accused Garma of orchestrating the July 2020 murder of PCSO board secretary and retired police general Wesley Barayuga. Her role in this killing is under intense scrutiny.
Garma has long been linked to the Davao Death Squad (DDS), a vigilante group accused of EJKs during Duterte’s time as mayor.
Self-confessed DDS hitman Arturo Lascañas named Garma as one of the early members of the group and claimed she managed a group of hitmen under the alleged direction of Go.
Lascañas, now cooperating with the International Criminal Court (ICC), has offered testimony in exchange for limited immunity, implicating Garma in DDS activities.
While Garma has consistently denied these allegations, the Quad Committee is investigating whether her actions during Duterte’s administration and her role in PCSO funding were connected to extrajudicial operations during the drug war.
Last Aug. 28, Garma was barred from flying to the U.S. via Japan, with airline staff informing her that her visa, which was valid until 2028, had been canceled.
The U.S. embassy declined to comment on individual visa cases, but this action mirrors the 2020 cancellation of former PNP chief and now Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s visa due to his role in Duterte’s drug war.
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