By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager and retired police colonel Royina Garma is set to testify against former President Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court (ICC), prosecutors confirmed, in a case centered on alleged crimes against humanity tied to the administration’s anti-drug campaign.
Garma will be joined by admitted former members of the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS), Edgar Matobato and Arturo Lascañas, both of whom have previously accused Duterte and other officials of involvement in extrajudicial killings during his tenure as Davao City mayor.
Matobato first made national headlines in 2016 when he told a Senate inquiry that he participated in killings linked to the DDS. Lascañas has likewise alleged that Duterte ordered police operations targeting suspected drug personalities, including claims of enforced disappearances and killings.
‘Davao Model’ under scrutiny
Garma’s expected testimony is seen as central to the prosecution’s attempt to establish what it describes as a systematic, state-backed approach to the anti-drug campaign.
In earlier congressional hearings, Garma acknowledged her involvement in implementing what she referred to as the “Davao Model,” which she described as a structured approach to anti-drug operations. According to her testimony, the system included operational funding, reimbursements for expenses incurred by police units, and financial incentives tied to successful operations.
She also claimed that Duterte, after winning the presidency in 2016, sought to replicate the Davao system nationwide, drawing on practices developed during his time in Davao City.
Garma, who previously served in the Philippine National Police before leading the PCSO in 2019, said her role in Davao gave her direct exposure to the framework before its alleged expansion at the national level.
Competing narratives
While Matobato and Lascañas provide accounts of alleged street-level killings, Garma’s testimony is expected to focus on how anti-drug operations were organized and funded, a perspective prosecutors may use to argue the existence of a coordinated policy.
Lawmakers have also previously examined whether PCSO resources were improperly used during Garma’s tenure, though she has denied any misuse of agency funds.
Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Duterte’s former Philippine National Police chief, has rejected claims of any reward system for killings, calling allegations of a “Davao Model” fabrication. He has also denied involvement in any illegal directives tied to the drug war.
ICC case against Duterte
Duterte is currently facing trial at the ICC over allegations of crimes against humanity linked to thousands of killings during his administration’s anti-drug campaign. He is the first former Asian head of state to stand trial before the court in The Hague, which handles the world’s most serious international crimes.
Prosecutors are expected to rely on testimony from multiple witnesses, including Garma, Matobato, and Lascañas, to argue that the killings were part of a broader state policy rather than isolated police misconduct.
The defense has consistently maintained that deaths occurred during legitimate law enforcement operations and denies the existence of any official policy encouraging extrajudicial killings.
If accepted by the court, Garma’s testimony on an alleged incentive-based system could strengthen the prosecution’s argument that the campaign involved orders, coordination, and institutional support at the highest levels of government.
ia/xf
