Ex-PCSO chief Garma seeking asylum in US

Detained in the United States since November last year for carrying a canceled visa, retired police Col. Royina Garma is applying for asylum to prevent her return to the Philippines, where she is facing criminal charges for the killing of a Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) official.

- By EVELYN MACAIRAN

Detained in the United States since November last year for carrying a canceled visa, retired police Col. Royina Garma is applying for asylum to prevent her return to the Philippines, where she is facing criminal charges for the killing of a Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) official.

Garma's lawyer Emerito Quilang yesterday revealed to reporters his client's situation in the US, where she has been in detention since Nov. 7 following her arrest by the US Customs and Border Protection in San Francisco, California.

Garma is also being linked to extrajudicial killings during the administration of president Rodrigo Duterte, who is awaiting trial in The Hague for crimes against humanity.

"What I heard (is that) she is still in detention. In fact, I was able to talk to her last night. She told me she is still in detention," Quilang told reporters at the Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday.