Witnesses in Barayuga slay secured in 2020

The mistahs (Philippine Military Academy classmates) of slain Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Board Secretary Wesley Barayuga said they identified and secured the safety of the whistle-blowers just a few months after his murder in 2020.

According to Jun Veneracion’s report in 24 Oras on Thursday, Barayuga’s classmates from PMA Matikas Class of 1983 have been protecting the whistle-blowers, Police Lieutenant Colonel Santie Mendoza and ex-police corporal Nelson Maranio since October 2020. 

“Our classmates who were in the government positions, they formed, nagkaroon sila ng core group to work on this silently, to gather witnesses and evidence para sa resolution ng kaso and to seek justice for our classmate,” said retired Col. Enrique Dela Cruz. 

(Our classmates who were in the government positions, they formed a core group to work on this silently, to gather witnesses, and evidence for the resolution of the case and to seek justice for our classmate.) 

Dela Cruz said that they waited for the right time for them to bring out Mendoza and Mariano in consideration for their safety. 

He said the right time occurred when the presidential administration changed and the House of Representatives Quad Committee began looking into the extrajudicial killings during the regime of former president Rodrigo Duterte. 

Before the House panel, Menndoza said it was former PCSO General Manager Royina Garma and National Police Commission Edilberto Leonardo who ordered Barayuga's murder. 

While the case has already progressed, Mendoza’s testimony could put his police career in jeopardy. 

“Kung totoo man ang sinasabi niya dito, ito’y isang grave offense, na ang maipapataw dito ang pinakamabigat sa administratibo, ang pagkakatanggal sa serbisyo,” said Philippine National Police - Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) Inspector General Brigido Dulay. 

(If he is telling the truth, then this warrants a grave offense if ever he lied. The harshest administrative penalty he could get is relief from duty.) 

The PNP-IAS is also investigating if anyone who investigated Barayuga’s death should also be held accountable. 

The probe into Barayuga's killing was first made under former Mandaluyong Police Station chief P/Col. Hector Grijaldo, who was a former classmate of Garma at the PNP Academy. 

But the case failed to prosper. It was automatically transferred to the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group. 

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla praised the House QuadComm for looking into the case. 

“I still marvel at the info that they are getting,” he said. 

“Maraming cold cases ngayon eh… nagkakaroon lang ng liwanag kung meron whistle blower,” the DOJ head said.

(There are lots of cold cases now and having whistle-blowers help shed light on this case.)
—Vince Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News