The Philippine National Police (PNP) verified on Tuesday that its Criminal and Detection Group (CIDG) will file criminal charges against former police colonel Royina Garma and National Police Commission Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo in connection with the 2020 murder of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga.
PNP spokesperson BGen. Jean Fajardo expressed that Garma and Leonardo will face murder and frustrated murder charges.
“The case folder is ready to file. “We’re just waiting for the wife of Gen. Wesley Barayuga and other relatives so we can formally file the complaint,” she explained in Filipino.
“Wesley Barayuga’s driver is still alive.” He will be one of the complainants in the case. So this is a frustrated murder in terms of Barayuga’s driver, who is still alive. Regarding Wesley Barayuga’s case, we’re only waiting for Mrs. Wesley Barayuga to show,” she continued.
According to Fajardo, the charges involve Lt. Col. Santi Mendoza, who testified about the Barayuga murder at the House of Representatives quad committee hearing; fired police officer Nelson Mariano, whom he ordered to recruit a hitman; and S/Sgt. Jeremy Causapin alias “Talks,” who purportedly gave Mariano P300,000, is said to be from Garma and an unnamed gunman.
“The CIDG is confident, aside from Lt. Col. Santi Mendoza’s testimony, that there will be more clarity once they can present other evidence relating to this case,” she said.
When asked if Mendoza may be admitted into the witness protection program (WPP), Fajardo responded, “It’s too early to consider him eligible.” Law enforcement officers are not qualified under the WPP provision. However, there is one clause that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating.
Although the WPP precludes including current government officials, House quad panel chair Robert Ace Barbers stated in a September 30 radio interview that the DOJ is investigating if state personnel might be eligible for testimony if a legislative committee recommends them.
PNP Chief Gen. Rommel Marbil directed that the case be reopened on September 29, following Mendoza’s evidence at the seventh quad panel hearing, in which he indicated Leonardo and Garma instructed him to target Barayuga.
In July 2020, an unidentified shooter on a motorcycle shot and killed Barayuga on his way home from the PCSO headquarters in Mandaluyong City.