Photo credit: PNP

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has confirmed a court has ordered the arrest of former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager, retired Police Lieutenant Colonel Royina Garma, in connection with the 2020 killing of a PCSO board member.

PNP Public Information Chief PBGen. Randulf Tuaño announced on Monday that the Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 279 issued the no-bail warrant on September 13. The charges are for murder and frustrated murder, stemming from the death of PCSO Board Member Wesley Barayuga and the shooting of his driver, who survived the attack in July 2020.

Despite Garma's recent return from America, Tuaño stated that Acting PNP Chief Melencio Nartatez Jr. has not formed a specific tracker team. Tuaño explained that the existing "task group manhunt" under the current anti-criminality drive will handle the effort, as part of regular police operations.

This news comes shortly after Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla revealed that Garma had traveled to Malaysia last month as a tourist to meet with officials from the International Criminal Court (ICC). The warrant was also released just weeks after Garma reportedly agreed to testify against former President Rodrigo Duterte concerning his War on Drugs.

Warrants have also been issued for four other individuals linked to the case: former National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) Commissioner Edilberto dela Cruz Leonardo, Jeremy Zapata Causapin (alias “Toks”), active police officer Santie Fuentes Mendoza, and Nelson Enriquez Mariano.