Barbers urges DOJ: File murder raps vs. Garma, Leonardo

The Department of Justice (DOJ) should file murder charges againts retired police Colonels Royina Garma and Edilberto Leonardo over the assassination of former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga, House dangerous drugs panel chair and Surigao del Norte representative Ace Barbers said Wednesday.

Barbers, who also chairs the House Quad Committee investigating the drug war deaths during the Duterte administration, made the call in light of the testimonies by Police Lieutenant Colonel Santie Mendoza of the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-PDEG) and police informant Nelson Mariano accusing Garma and Leonardo of ordering the kill job on Barayuga over the latter's supposed links to the drug trade, which turned out to be a disagreement over PCSO game Perya ng Bayan.

At the time of the supposed kill job on Barayuga, Garma was the PCSO General Manager while Leonardo was a commissioner of the National Police Commission (Napolcom).

"We are in close coordination with the DOJ. They have representatives monitoring our hearings precisely because we are unearthing evidence of criminal activities and other acts of wrongdoing in the course of our inquiry. They should interview our two witnesses last Friday and assess their testimonies," Barbers said in a statement.

"They (DOJ officials) do not have to wait for the [final] report of the joint committee, which will include a recommendation to file such [murder] charges. The panel will take time to write the report since the inquiry is still ongoing. The exchange of messages via Viber and the supposed photo of Barayuga taken by Garma during their PCSO meeting will strengthen the case against Garma and Leonardo," he added.

Garma and Leonardo are Mendoza's seniors or upperclassmen at the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA).

Also on Wednesday, the kin of the late PCSO executive thanked the House QuadComm for seeking justice for Barayuga's death.

"This gives us comfort even while we know that we are still far from receiving justice. Sa huling apat na taon inupuan ang kaso at pinaasa ang aming pamilya na may ginagawa sila ukol dito. At this point, it is difficult to trust and put our hopes up," the family said in a statement.

(This gives us comfort even while we know that we are still far from receiving justice. In the past four years that the case did not move and our family was given false hope that authorities were doing something about it. At this point, it is difficult to trust and put our hopes up.)

"However, we believe that this is God's way of serving justice and clearing Wesley A. Barayuga's name whose case was alleged to be drug-related in a desperate attempt to cover up their tracks. Maraming salamat sa lahat ng nagsusuporta (Many thanks to all who supported us). We continue to ask for prayers as we heal from this tragedy," the family added.

Barbers, in a separate statement, assured that there would be no letup on the part of the House Quad Comm in its pursuit to bring Barayuga's killers to justice.

"We promise the Barayuga family that we will do everything that we could to hold Barayuga's killers accountbale," Barbers said.

Earlier, Garma and Leonardo both denied having knowledge on the kill plot on Barayuga.

"Nagulat po ako (I was taken aback), I did not expect it. Hindi ko po alam iyong sinasabi po niya. I cannot speculate. I do not know what he (Mendoza) is thinking. I had a relationship with him (Barayuga). we are not in conflict," Garma said.

"Hindi po totoo iyon (That is not true). Nagulat rin po ako. Hindi ko po siya puede utusan kasi hindi ko po siya (Mendoza) kilala," Leonardo added.

Surigao del Sur representativel and House Quad Comm member Johnny Pimentel, however, was not convinced and described Garma as a "ruthless killer" pretending to be a "meek lamb." — VDV, GMA Integrated News