JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed on Monday that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has reached out to drug war whistleblower and former police Col. Royina Garma to testify in proceedings related to the case of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Garma, former chairman of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, flew to the United States in November 2024 after confirming the existence of Duterte’s Davao Death Squad and drug war rewards. She returned to the Philippines on Sept. 6.

“The ICC has been asking Royina Garma about making her available to be a witness in the case. So at that time, she was still applying for asylum, but was denied,” Remulla said in a press briefing.

The justice chief disclosed that Garma is covered by an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) but has no pending warrant of arrest.

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He added that the government allowed her to travel to Malaysia for a meeting with ICC representatives.

Remulla said that the arrangement was made to ensure her safety, given potential risks if she remained in the Philippines.

“If she’s going to be a witness for the ICC, we have to say that our working relationship with the ICC involves witness protection. And the best way to protect her is by waiting for the ICC to meet her abroad. Because her life can be in danger in our country,” he said.

ICC wants Garma to testify in Duterte case

At the same time, Remulla vowed that the government will continue pursuing justice in the 2020 killing of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga.

Barayuga was gunned down in Mandaluyong City in July 2020. In September 2024, LtCol. Santie Mendoza of the Philippine National Police-Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-PDEG) claimed that National Police Commission Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo and Garma wanted Barayuga dead over his alleged links to the illegal drug trade.

Remulla said Garma will be summoned to testify in the Barayuga case.

“Technically, if you call the whistleblower out, she’s under our protection already. So we will have to evaluate everything again,” he said.

Remulla emphasized that Garma’s testimony before the ICC is important, but her role in domestic proceedings is equally crucial.

“The Wesley Barayuga case is equally important. We cannot go along with this unserved. But she will be testifying here, also,” he added.