Erin Devanadera

The Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil called for a revisition of the former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO official Wesley Barayuga murder case on Sept. 27, during a house quad committee hearing,  in accordance with new implicating evidence and conspiracies, which has been closed in 2020.

Photo Courtesy of ABS-CBN News/abogado.com.

The general was shot dead in July 2020 and reported to have been on his way home from the PCSO office in Mandaluyong City. 

The case, as implied in the statement of Lieutenant Colonel Santie Mendoza, involved the alleged role of two high-ranking individuals known as NPC Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo and former police colonel Royina Garma as the leads for the orchestration of Barayuga’s murder. 

In furthering the house hearing, Mendoza testified of Leonardo and Garma’s elicit transactions to eliminate Barayuga through several ways, including the former instructing him to carry out the order, but upon failing to comply with the plan, cooperated with Garma to assassinate Barayuga through hired gunmen. 

In responses to these allegations, the two alleged leads denied having assumpted roles and close contact with Mendoza in the murder case. 

“Maganda po. Wala po kaming conflict. Yes, nag-uusap po kami,” Garma told the committee after being questioned on her relationship with Barayuga during their times back in PCSO. 

“Nag-record lang naman po ‘yan during the board meeting. It’s the board who discusses all the sensitive issues. Him as the board secretary, he just takes notes. Wala naman po,” added Garma as she was asked about her reaction towards Mendoza’s statements.

“Actually, I knew him only after meeting him once. I know that he’s one of our underclass, but aside from that, I have no idea, I do not know him.” Leonardo then followed and stated, explicitly pointing to his impersonal relationship with the appointed secretary and witness. 

To reinitiate the reopening of the case, the Criminal Investigation and Detection group will lead the reinvestigation, evaluation, and analysis of the available evidence to prevent bias and infringement on the sources used. 

“We are committed to uncovering the truth, regardless of the position or power of those involved. The public can rest assured that we will hold those responsible accountable,” Marbil reiterated. 

The murder case can be linked back to its first publication in 2020, where numerous concerns about governmental authority rose while clashing with the extrajudicial killings revolving around the drug war started by the Duterte Administration.