MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines’ top diplomat to the United States confirmed that Retired Police Col. Royina Garma’s request for asylum is “in-process” and remains in the custody of U.S. authorities.
In an interview on DZRH’s Dos Por Dos program, Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez said that U.S. authorities are now processing her request for an asylum and is currently detained there.
“Nandito na yun, si Col. Garma, so they’re processing [her] asylum request,” Romualdez said.
When asked if Garma’s application for asylum was not affected by the Trump administration’s executive order to suspend entry of all undocumented migrants to the U.S. and turn away people without granting asylum hearings, Romualdez explained that Garma’s request for an asylum was filed before President Trump stepped into office.
“Bago pumasok yung Trump administration, in-process na iyan. Tuloy-tuloy na yan,” Romualdez stated.
He believes though, that new applications will have a hard time getting approved because of Trump’s executive order.
Romualdez also clarified that U.S. authorities have not given them any information regarding Garma’s application for an asylum.
Only as a matter of “courtesy” that the Philippine Embassy is informed if there are deportation cases involving Filipinos and if they are involved in any crime or wrongdoing.
Garma, who was arrested on November 7, 2024 by Customs and Border Protection in San Francisco, California, served as a former manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
She appeared during the House of Representatives’ quad committee hearing and told lawmakers about a “reward system” in the Philippine National Police (PNP) for drug war kills during the Duterte Administration.
During the hearing, Garma’s possible role in high-profile killings surfaced, including that of PCSO Board Secretary retired police general Wesley Barayuga,
Reports also revealed that during her tenure as Cebu City police chief, Garma allegedly perpetrated the killing of 198 individuals linked to the drug war and faces accusations of transferring illicit funds to the U.S., where her former husband, Col. Roland Vilela, was a PNP diplomat in California.
In earlier interviews, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla considered Garma “a very important witness,” and was offered witness protection for her testimonies before the quad committee, such as detailing alleged directives from former president Rodrigo Duterte, including setting “killing quotas” and offering monetary rewards for eliminating drug suspects and other criminals.
Garma also mentioned in her quad comm testimony that the existence of the Davao Death Squad and its operations were “common knowledge” among police officers in Davao City.
