The former Cebu City of Mayor Tomas Osmena and former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (“PCSO”) General Manager Royina Garma’s feud in 2018 was not a secret. Osmena publicly criticized Garma for the increased police brutality that occurred in Cebu City during Garma’s stint as Cebu City police chief. Garma also publicly took pride in having the support of the former President Duterte – to the frustration of the former mayor.

During the previous Quad Committee hearings, the Committee was able to establish that Garma had not moved up in ranks out of her own merits. The former president favored Garma over everyone else by placing her in high law enforcement positions in Davao during Digong Duterte’s mayoral term.

When Digong Duterte then served as President, Garma was curiously elected as the Cebu City police chief despite the objections of then-mayor Osmena. When asked why she was clearly favored and highly trusted by Digong Duterte, Garma was unable to give a sufficient answer.
To ensure that the local government unit and the local law enforcement work in harmony, a city mayor is always consulted as regards the appointment of the police chief who would serve as the city’s local law enforcement.

Former Mayor Osmena revealed that the PCSO gave a letter in 2019 which stated that Garma received a “payola” of PhP 1 Million a week from illegal gambling operators and financiers when she was still the head of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (“CIDG”). Her bagman was SPO4 Arthur Narsolis, who was also reported to have contacted persons deprived of liberty who killed the three (3) Chinese nationals in the Davao Penal Colony.

However, Duterte did not care for this report. He ignored Osmena when the latter raised his objections. Garma still became the Cebu City police chief under Duterte’s term until she availed of early retirement in 2019.
According to Osmena, PCSO internally probed the allegations before Garma became the general manager of PCSO. To recall in early 2019, the former PCSO General Manager Alexander Balutan was fired by Duterte following allegations of corruption. While no reasons were given for his separation from service. Mayor Osmena’s testimony sheds light on what might have occurred. Former General Manager Balutan may have discovered Garma’s dirty trail. To stop Balutan from discovering that Digong Duterte himself was benefiting from the payola, the tables were turned against Balutan, who was then fired.

Unsurprisingly, Garma was appointed as PCSO General Manager just 15 days after her retirement. Truth be told, her appointment as General Manager seemed too random. However, this sheds light as to why she was installed as the PCSO General Manager – that is, so she could continue to bleed the gambling companies dry, whether legal or illegally operated.

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