JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla yesterday said that US authorities arrested retired police colonel Royina Garma early this month due to alleged money laundering activities.
“It’s the Magnitsky Act. They’re actually after her properties which she stored there, her alleged money laundering activities, and of course, the human rights violations that were part of the Magnitsky Act,” Remulla told reporters but declined to provide additional details.
The Magnitsky Act was passed in 2016 by the US Congress. It authorizes the US government to impose sanctions on foreign government officials who are believed to be human rights violators or offenders.
Remulla said the government is working to bring Garma home under the provisions of the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty between Manila and Washington.
“I’m asking the immigration people to do the formal work. But, anyway, we have the MLAT. We will work this out,” he said.
Last week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it is coordinating with US authorities regarding the arrest of Garma, who was held by US border control officers along with her daughter upon their arrival in California last November 7.
Remulla said then that the Garmas were held due to the cancelled US visa of the former general manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
Garma is a key witness in the ongoing congressional inquiry on the bloody drug war carried out during the administration of former President Rodriguo Duterte.
She has been accused by an active policeman as the alleged mastermind in the 2020 killing of former PCSO board member Wesley Barayuga.
Remulla had said that Garma will not be arrested upon her return to the country since she has no pending criminal cases before the DOJ or in courts.
