President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Monday appointed Cebu City Police Col. Royina Garma as the next general manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), replacing Alexander Balutan who left PCSO last March.
“‘Yung sa PCSO. Balutan has been out. Si Garma ang papalit,” President Duterte said in an interview with reporters Monday night during the premiere of the political action thriller “Kontradiksyon” at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.
Balutan became PCSO head in 2016 but stepped down four months ago following accusations of overspending for the PCSO’s Christmas party in 2017. He was also accused of favoring a company for small town lottery operations.
Garma, a police veteran, was designated as Cebu City police chief by President Duterte in 2018. A graduate of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) class 1997, she had long stints at the Davao City police, first as administrative officer and then as head of the Davao City’s Women and Children’s Protection Desk.
Garma also became the chief of Sasa and Sta. Ana police precincts in Davao City.
Also on Monday, President Duterte joined award-winning writer and musician Njel de Mesa, as well as the cast of the movie “Kontradiksyon” on its premier. The movie was written and directed by De Mesa.
“Kontradiksyon” is about the government’s war on drugs that follows the story of human rights activist Alexis Borlaza played by Jake Cuenca.
Before the start of the movie, the President emphasized in his speech his vision of uplifting the lives of Filipinos using Davao City as blueprint, concentrating on fighting illegal drugs, criminality, and corruption.
“Sinabi ko, ‘Do not destroy my city. I’m going to build a comfortable city. I will return to you your streets, your alleys. I will return to you the parks and you can go out every night,’” he said.
“And I told the police, ‘Send your wife and your beautiful daughter outside. Let them roam the streets anywhere. And if they come home alive, happy, smiling, unbridled, undisturbed, unmolested, ‘yon ang gusto kong siyudad para sa atin.’”
Other cast members include Kris Bernal, Katrina Halili, Elizabeth Oropesa, and Odette Khan. “Kontradiksyon” was produced by Bell Films. PND
