Royina Garma (left) and former president Rodrigo Duterte (Facebook, Malacañang photo)

Former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Royina Garma's explosive revelations during the last House quad-committee (quad-comm) hearing is just the "tip of the iceberg". 

Thus, reckoned House "Young Guns" bloc members Zambales 1st district Rep. Jay Khonghun and La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega V. 

They said Garma’s testimony before the special four-way panel gave Filipinos a peek into the inner workings of the Duterte administration, particularly on the war on drugs. 

“Mind you, it’s just the tip of the iceberg – so to speak. It comes from the perspective of an insider who has not just the trust and confidence, or the eyes and ears of the former president, but even beyond that,” Khonghun said, alluding to Garma's reported closeness to former president Rodrigo Duterte, 

“So, this is not something that cannot be easily ignored. This testimony definitely carries with it much credibility, most especially if other witnesses, including documentary evidence, will corroborate whatever Garma may have to say as a matter of public record,” he added. 

Ortega noted that the claims made by Garma before the quad-comm on Friday night, Oct 11 was only the beginning of a deeper and more alarming issue regarding how alleged extrajudicial killings (EJKs) were carried out in the previous administration. 
 

ALSO READ:

https://mb.com.ph/2024/10/12/garma-provides-possible-lead#google_vignette

“Please take note that Garma’s explosive testimony before us involves not just hundreds, but thousands of lives lost to drug operations where even innocent children and teenagers were killed – all in the guise of combatting the drug menace in the streets,” he said. 

“There is much more to uncover, and we are committed to getting to the bottom of these serious allegations. The quad-comm will not stop until all the facts are laid bare because this is about accountability,” Ortega noted.

Led by its overall chairman, Surigao del Norte 2nd Robert Ace Barbers, the quad-comm will hold its next hearing on Wednesday, Oct. 16.