Bong Go denies knowing motive behind 2020 killing of PCSO exec

Senator Bong Go on Tuesday denied being informed of the motive behind the killing of former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga in 2020.

In a statement, Go said he supports the Philippine National Police's move to reopen the slay case of Barayuga. He said that "justice should be served" to the late PCSO official and his family.

“Nais ko ring klaruhin na wala akong alam sa sinasabing motibo sa kanyang pagkamatay o sa anumang impormasyon na mayroon si dating PCSO Chair Anselmo Simeon Pinili ukol dito,” he said.

(I also want to clarify that I am not aware of the said motive behind the killing of Barayuga or any information that former PCSO chair Anselmo Simeon Pinili has about this.)

Go said that during that time, he was focused on his work as senator and chairman of the Senate committee on health.

“Dapat lamang na mabigyan ng hustisya ang kanyang pamilya. Dapat nga noon pa ay nabigyan na ng hustisya iyan. Gayunpaman, mabuti na rin na maimbestigahan ‘yang muli ngayon para mapanagot ang dapat managot,” he added.

(It's only right that his family should be given justice. It should have been given even earlier on. Nevertheless, it's good too that this will be investigated once more so those involved can be held accountable.)

During the House QuadComm hearing last week, former PCSO Chairperson Anselmo Pinili disclosed that he "reported" to Go and former Undersecretary in the Office of the President Jesus Melchor Quitain of the motive behind Barayuga's killing based on the parallel investigation that he launched.

Pinili disclosed this when Antipolo 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop asked him about the text message that he sent to Barayuga’s wife after the former general was killed. In Pinili's text message to Barayuga's widow, a "privileged communication" or information that is "considered highly confidential" with "Usec. Q and Senator BG" was mentioned.

Pinili confirmed that he was referring to Quitain and Go.

“I reported this (highly confidential information) to them," Pinili said.

Asked again to confirm if he knew the motive behind Barayuga's killing, Pinili answered in the affirmative.

"Alam niyo na kung sino ang may kagagawan (You already know who did it). Would that be correct?” Acop asked, to which Pinili replied, “Yes, Your Honor.”

Acop then pointed out that Pinili and his classmates in Philippine Military Academy Matikas Class of 1983 have kept this for already four years.

"For four years you have suppressed this. You and some members of your class. Hindi ba (Is that right)?" Acop said.

“Alam ninyo ang totoong nangyari (you already know what happened) but you never did anything about it. Why? Because of fear. Am I correct?, he added.

Pinili responded, "Partly."

"Which part is not true? Hindi ka makasagot. Anyway, bahala ka na sa iyong mga classmates. Dapat nga nagsasabi ka na ng buong katotohanan dito eh dahil maso-solve na yung pagkamatay ng classmate mo,” Acop said.

(You cannot respond. Anyway, it is already up to you on what you'll do with your classmates. You should tell the truth here because the case of your classmate is about to be solved.)

In clarifying the claim, Go said that being a legislator, he could not meddle with the investigation process conducted by the police regarding the incident.

“Sa totoo lang po, hindi ko rin naman pwedeng pakialaman ang proseso ng ating kapulisan tungkol sa insidente. That is why I take exception sa mga ibinabalita sa media na may alam ako sa motibo ng pagkamatay ng isang tao at wala raw akong ginawa,” he said.

(To be honest, I also couldn't possibly intervene in the police's investigation into the incident. That's why I take exception to the media reports claiming that I knew the motive behind someone's death and didn't do anything about it.)

In a previous House Quadcomm hearing, Police Lieutenant Colonel Santie Mendoza of the Philippine National- Police Drug Enforcement Group (PNP- PDEG) accused former PCSO General Manager Royina Garma and National Police Commission (Napolcom) Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo of ordering the July 2020 killing of Barayuga.

Mendoza said Leonardo ordered him to conduct the assassination on July 30, 2020 as Barayuga was at that time inside the PCSO building.

According to Mendoza, 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.

Barayuga was fatally shot in broad daylight in Mandaluyong City by an unidentified gunman on board a motorcycle. CCTV footage showed the gunman riding beside the official government vehicle and shooting the PCSO official through the passenger side window.

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

Garma, in response, said she was surprised by the allegations.

The former police and PCSO official said she had no "conflict" with Barayuga, with whom she said she had a smooth working relationship.

Leonardo, likewise, denied Mendoza's accusations.—RF, GMA Integrated News