PNP vows no ‘sacred cows’ in Barayuga slay probe

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said there will be no “sacred cows” in the renewed investigation into the case of slain former general and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes board secretary Wesley Barayuga. 

PNP Spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo made the assurance during an interview with Tuesday Niu on Super Radyo dzBB on Sunday.

“Wala kaming sisinuhin at wala kaming iilagan sa pagsasampa ng kaso at pag-iimbestiga,” Fajardo said.

(We will not spare or avoid anyone in filing a case and from being the subject of an investigation.)

“There will be no ‘sacred cow’ dito sa gagawing imbestigasyon ng PNP… We owe it to the family of the victims, to the people. As an institution, the PNP should come up with a credible investigation this time,” she added.

Barayuga’s murder is among the high priority cases that will be given priority during the war on drugs of former president Rodrigo Duterte, according to Fajardo. The e

The retired general was gunned down by a motorcycle-riding assassin while he was inside his service vehicle in Mandaluyong City in 2020.

On September 27, a policeman testifying during the continuation of the House investigation into the deaths being linked to the Duterte administration's drug war accused former PCSO General Manager Royina Garma and National Police Commission (Napolcom) Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo of ordering the July 2020 killing of Barayuga.

“Maraming mga bagong impormasyon and revelation and statements coming from the persons who were allegedly involved sa mga high profile case na ito,” the PNP spokesperson said.

(There is a lot of new information and revelation and statements coming from the persons who were allegedly involved in these high profile cases.)

Based on PNP data, Fajardo said there were around 6,000 police or anti-illegal drug operations that resulted in fatalities.

‘Challenging time for PNP’

“This is a challenging time for the PNP as an institution. Dahil sa mga nasabing kasong ito, allegedly involved ang ilang tauhan ng PNP… The only way the PNP can rise from this institutional challenge is to be professional sa gagawing imbestigasyon,” Fajardo pointed out.

She said the PNP wants to give justice to the families of the victims.

“Gusto nating mabigyan ng hustisya ang mga pamilya. Gusto nating ipakita sa mga mamamayan na this is not the norm ng buong institusyon,” the police official said.

“Kailangan maipakita na ang bagong administrasyon ay hindi i-e-encourage at hindi magbubulag-bulagan sa katotohanan na posibleng may mga involved na pulis,” she added.

(We want the families to receive justice. We want to show our citizens that this is not the norm of the whole institution. It needs to be shown that the new administration does not encourage and is not blind to the truth that there is a possibility there are members of the police who are involved.)

In the case of Barayuga, Fajardo said the PNP has been gathering evidence and is now prepared to file several cases. The police official said they are just waiting for the victim’s family to appear before the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG).

“We cannot turn a blind eye sa mga impormasyon na lumalabas… Hindi tayo papayag na iilang pulis ang sisira sa imahe ng PNP,” Fajardo said.

(We cannot turn a blind eye to the information that is being revealed… We will not tolerate that a few police officers will tarnish the image of the PNP.)

The general said that despite these developments, the PNP’s campaign against narcotics continues.

“Tuloy-tuloy and ating kampanya laban sa iligal na droga… Mula Enero hanggang Oktubre, almost close to 40,000 police operations na ang ating naisagawa,” she said.

“Tinututukan natin ang supply at demand reduction sa kampanya laban sa iligal na droga.”

(Our campaign against illegal drugs continues… From January to October, almost close to 40,000 police operations were initiated. We have been focusing on the supply and demand reduction in the campaign against illegal drugs.) —RF, GMA Integrated News