MANILA — Former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office General Manager Royina Garma admitted appointing her relatives to PCSO positions during her stint as GM, including her daughter as “confidential agent”.

House Committee on Public Order and Safety Rep. Dan Fernandez questioned this move, saying Garma’s daughter did not meet the qualifications for the post, which included experience in law enforcement.

“I will tell you the qualifications of a confidential agent. One, a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. Two, she has previous experience in law enforcement. Does she have experience in law enforcement? Your daughter?” Fernandez asked.

“None, your honor. She’s very confident in report writing and editing communications,” Garma replied.

“Basically she’s sick yet, you appointed her as confidential agent,” Fernandez pointed out.

“Mr. Chair, during that time, the diagnosis issued to her was only for dyslexia… It does not indicate that you are mentally ill if you have dyslexia. The bipolar account only came out after she left PCSO,” Garma said.

Asked whether what Garma did was “unethical”, she said the positions her relatives were appointed to, supposedly required “only trust and confidence”.

STL PARTY LIST

Garma also admitted founding the STL Party List when she was still PCSO general manager, but denied money from PCSO went to the Party List.

“Noong ikaw ay PCSO general manager, nagtayo ba kayo ng STL Party List?” Fernandez asked.

“Yes, Mr. Chair,” Garma replied.

“Naglagay ka ba ng pondo sa STL foundation kung saan siya ang sumusuporta sa STL Party List na galing sa PCSO?” Fernandez inquired further.

“No, Mr. Chair,” Garma answered.

“Stop lying. I know that you put money on the foundation. You put money from the PCSO,” Fernandez alleged, showing a social media post that states the STL Foundation and the STL Party List “facilitated” the turnover of “a check from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office worth P2 million” to Mandaue City to help in its recovery efforts from calamity.