A former senior police officer who blew the whistle on the “War on Drugs” has traveled abroad to meet with representatives of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Department of Justice confirmed on Monday.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said retired police colonel Royina Garma has agreed to provide testimony in the case against former president Rodrigo Duterte, who is facing crimes against humanity charges at The Hague over his bloody anti-narcotics campaign.

“I think she is the highest-ranking police officer that can be asked to give a narrative about the drug war, the reward system, and other parts of her testimony that she already gave in the Quad Comm,” Remulla told reporters.

“We will see how this will play out because the testimony in the ICC is very important. And not only that, the Wesley Barayuga case is equally important,” Remulla added.

According to the Bureau of Immigration (BI), Garma left the Philippines on Sunday evening for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The agency confirmed her departure was reported to the Department of Justice, noting she traveled as a tourist.

“She left as a tourist for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3,” the BI said in a statement.

Her trip comes despite being placed under an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) since November 2024. The BI clarified that no hold departure order or warrant of arrest currently prevents her from leaving.

Garma has been implicated in the 2020 killing of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga. She faces murder and frustrated murder complaints filed by the National Bureau of Investigation and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

Police Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza earlier told a House Quad Committee that Garma and former National Police Commission commissioner Edilberto Leonardo were behind the killing. Garma has denied involvement.

During the same congressional hearings, Garma alleged that the Duterte administration implemented a so-called “Davao model” reward system, which incentivized police officers to carry out killings of drug suspects.

However, former President Duterte has denied her claims.

Garma and her daughter, Angelica Garma Vilela, were previously arrested in San Francisco, California, in November 2024, following the cancellation of their U.S. visas. Details of their detention have not been made public.

Remulla said Garma’s testimony could prove crucial for the ICC’s case, but emphasized that the Barayuga murder investigation remains equally important.

📷 Bureau of Immigration