Garma returning from US

Retired police colonel and former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Royina Garma "should be on her way back" to the Philippines after being denied entry to the United States earlier this week, according to Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez.

- MICHAEL PUNONGBAYAN

He said the Philippine consulate has been informed of Garma's detention and immediate deportation. "Her visa cancellation is most likely due to the Magnitsky Act," ABS-CBN News quoted Romualdez as saying yesterday, referring to the 2016 law that allows the US government to ban the entry and freeze the assets of foreign government officials involved in human rights offenses.

Garma, along with her daughter Angelica Vilela, were apprehended and detained by US immigration authorities in San Francisco, California on Nov. 7.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Tuesday said the retired police colonel was detained by the US border control because her visa had been canceled over a "human rights issue" after she left the Philippines on the same day.

Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Maria Teresita Daza said the DFA, through the Philippine consulate general in San Francisco, is continuously coordinating with US authorities.

Daza added that both Garma and her daughter are currently under the custody of the US Customs and Border Protection (US-CBP) in San Francisco.

"The Philippine consulate general in San Francisco stands ready to extend appropriate assistance to Filipino nationals within its consular jurisdiction, in accordance with existing rules and regulations," Daza said.

The quad comm released Garma from detention last week after she committed to attend future congressional hearings after earlier refusing to appear and testify.