DFA coordinating with US over detention of Garma, daughter

MANILA, Philippines  — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday said it was coordinating with US authorities regarding the detention of former police official Royina Garma and her daughter in California.

According to the DFA statement, Garma and her daughter Angelica Vilela are still under the custody of the United States Customs and Border Protection in San Francisco.

“The Department, through the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, is continuously coordinating with U.S. authorities regarding the reported arrest and detention of Ms. Royina Garma and Ms. Angelica Vilela,” the DFA said.

The department committed that the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco would provide the appropriate assistance to Filipinos within its jurisdiction, in accordance with existing rules and regulations

According to the Department of Justice, Garma and her daughter were held in immigration by border control upon their arrival in California on Nov. 7

READ: Garma detained in US for canceled visa – Remulla

The two were apprehended due to Garma’s canceled US Visa.

Garma was the one who implicated former President Rodrigo Duterte during a House quad committee investigation.

READ: Garma’s drug war exposé just ‘tip of the iceberg’ – lawmakers

The former police dropped a bombshell that Duterte allegedly offered cash rewards for every drug suspect killed in his administration’s bloody war on drugs.