House of Representatives (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

The House of Representatives’ quad-committee (quad-comm) gave a stern warning on Sunday, Sep. 1, to retired police lieutenant colonel Royina Garma that if she fails to attend the next scheduled hearing, she will face arrest.

Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, the lead chairman of the quad-comm, said the panel had already issued a subpoena to Garma to require her to appear in the ongoing investigation.

“If Lieutenant Colonel Garma refuses to attend, we will have no choice but to issue a warrant for her arrest,” Barbers said in a statement.

“This is a matter of national importance, and we will not tolerate any obstruction to this investigation,” he underscored.

Based on testimonies presented in recent hearings, Garma was implicated in orchestrating supposed unlawful operations during her tenure with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Davao.

Her name was specifically mentioned in the August 2016 killing of three Chinese drug lords—namely, Chu Kin Tung, Jackson Li, and Peter Wang—inside the Davao Prison and Penal Farm (DPPF).

Witnesses claimed that Garma leveraged her position in the CIDG to oversee the killings, which were carried out under the guise of the government’s anti-drug campaign.

“These are not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern of abuse that we believe Garma had a direct hand in. The gravity of these allegations cannot be overstated,” said Barbers.

The congressman explained that Garma’s testimony would allow the mega panel to understand the conduct of these targeted operations, as well as to hold accountable all involved personalities.

The quad-comm, which has been investigating the likes of alleged extrajudicial killings and illegal drugs, stressed the importance of Garma’s appearance before the panel.

The next hearing is scheduled on Tuesday, Sep. 3.

“We are committed to ensuring that justice is served, and that means everyone involved must be held to account,” noted Barbers.

The veteran lawmaker said non-compliance with the subpoena would mean that Garma will be cited for contempt. This could lead to her detention until she agrees to cooperate.

Additionally, the quad-comm is prepared to seek a court order to enforce the subpoena, ensuring that the investigation proceeds without further delay.

“Refusing to testify would be a serious act of defiance against the rule of law and could be seen as an attempt to hide the truth,” Barbers stressed.

“We have the authority and the resolve to compel her testimony, and we are prepared to use all legal means necessary to ensure her compliance,” he continued.