Cop tags Garma, Leonardo in killing of PCSO official in 2020

A policeman on Friday accused former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Royina Garma and National Police Commission (Napolcom) Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo of ordering the July 2020 killing of then-PCSO Board Secretary Wesley Barayuga.

Testifying during the continuation of the House investigation into the deaths being linked to the Duterte administration's drug war, Police Lieutenant Colonel Santie Mendoza of the Philippine National-Police Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-PDEG) said Leonardo ordered him to conduct the assassination on July 30, 2020 as Barayuga was at that time inside the PCSO building.

“Ipinadala niya sa akin ang larawan ni Mr. Barayuga habang ito ay nasa conference meeting sa loob ng PCSO. Sinabi ko kay Colonel Leonardo na dahil isang opisyal na gobyerno ang target, mahalaga na magsagawa po ng sarili kong verification, ngunit sinabi niya na hindi na kailangan dahil ang utos ay mula kay GM Garma, Colonel Royina Garma, na may personal na kaalaman sa tungkol sa mga ilegal na aktibidad ng droga ni Wesley Barayuga,” Mendoza told the four House committees conducting the investigation.

(He sent me a picture of Mr. Barayuga while Mr. Barayuga was at the conference room inside the PCSO. I told Colonel Leonardo that I need to verify it on my own since the target is a government official. But he said that's not necessary because the order came from Colonel Royina Garma who has personal knowledge of the illegal drug activities of Wesley Barayuga.)

Mendoza said Leonardo gave him the description and plate number of the service vehicle that Barayuga would use. He also said the vehicle was issued to Barayuga by Garma.

“Sinabi niya (Leonardo) na maaari na naming tirahin si Wesley Barayuga pagkatapos niya lumabas sa gusali,” Mendoza said.

(He told us that we could kill Wesley Barayuga when he leaves the building.)

Mendoza said he then contacted his informant, identified as Nelson Mariano, who hired the gunman identified only as Loloy.

Barayuga was shot dead in broad daylight in Mandaluyong by an unidentified gunman on board a motorcycle on that day. CCTV footage showed the gunman going beside the government car carrying him and shooting him through the passenger side.

Mendoza said Garma, a retired police colonel, rewarded them generously after the assassination was carried out successfully.

“Matapos na matagumpay na naisagawa ang operasyon, ipinaalam sa akin ni Colonel Leonardo na si Ma'am Garma ay nagbigay ng P300,000 bilang kabayaran para sa aming trabaho at ito ay iaabot ni ‘Toks’ sa aking middleman na si Nelson Mariano,” Mendoza said.

(After the operation was carried out successfully, Colonel Leonardo informed me that Ma'am Garma had given P300,000 as payment for our work, and Toks gave it to my middleman Nelson Mariano.)

"At nang magkita kami ni Nelson, ay inabot niya sa akin ang halagang P40,000 bilang aking bahagi sa kabayaran,” Mendoza added.

(When I met with Nelson, he gave me P40,000 as payment.)

Garma, in response, said she is surprised by such allegation. “Nagulat po ako (I was shocked), I did not expect it,” she said.

“Hindi ko po alam iyong sinasabi po niya (I don't know what he's talking about). I cannot speculate. I do not know what he (Mendoza) is thinking,” she added.

Garma said she had no "conflict" with Barayuga, with whom she said she had a smooth working relationship. 

"Maganda po [ang working relationship namin]. Wala po kaming conflict," she said. 

Leonardo, likewise, denied Mendoza's accusation. "Hindi po totoo iyon (That is not true.)," he told lawmakers present during the hearing. 

"Nagulat rin po ako. Hindi ko po siya puwede utusan kasi hindi ko po siya (Mendoza) kilala," Leonardo said, referring to Mendoza.

(I was also shocked. I cannot give him order because I do not know him.)  

Profound gratitude 

Members of the Philippine Military Academy’s “Matikas” Class of 1983 lauded the House joint committees for their probe into the alleged masterminds in the killing of Barayuga.

In a statement on Sunday, retired Air Force Colonel Enrique dela Cruz, PMA Class 1983 president, said the House probe has given “light and hope for the successful resolution of Barayuga’s tragic assassination four years ago.”

“Such service and commitment to deliver justice and righteous acts as you do today give us confidence that our nation is indeed represented by wise, courageous and honorable men. It may not bring our dear Wesley back but it is reassuring that there are people in government who are doing their best to bring the perpetrators to justice,” the statement read.

“(And) in behalf of the family of our dear Mistah, we also convey our profound gratitude for the identification of the assailants,” dela Cruz added.—with Mariel Celine Serquina, KBK/RF, GMA Integrated News