CIDG subpoenas persons, documents for Barayuga slay case probe

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has issued subpoenas to several personalities and documents in connection with its reinvestigation into the 2020 killing of then-Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Board Secretary Wesley Barayuga, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Monday.

In a press briefing, PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said they believe these individuals, who she did not name, and documents could shed more light on the case.

“Meron pong mga inisyuhan po, nagpadala po ng subpoena ang CIDG to some particular individuals, without naming them, that they think would somehow shed more light in this case,” Fajardo said.

(The CIDG has sent subpoenas to particular individuals who they think would somehow shed more light on this case.)

“And of course some documents were also subpoenaed by the CIDG because we believe these personalities and documents would somehow corroborate yung [the] theory na tinitignan po natin [that we are looking it] with respect to this case,” she added.

Asked if these people were also police officers like those who were initially linked to the case, Fajardo said, “Hindi po (No).”

Barayuga was shot dead by a motorcycle-riding gunman on July 30, 2020 while onboard a PCSO-issued car in Mandaluyong City. His driver was wounded but survived the incident.

CCTV footage showed the gunman riding beside the official government vehicle and shooting the PCSO official through the passenger side window.

The case hit the spotlight again following revelations made during a hearing by the House Quad Committee, which is probing killings being linked to the Duterte administration's war on drugs.

Barayuga's widow and driver are set to file murder and frustrated murder complaints against individuals mentioned in the congressional hearing, among them former National Police Commission commissioner Edilberto Leonardo, ex-PCSO general manager Royina Garma, Lieutenant Colonel Santie Mendoza, police officer Nelson Mariano, and an alias Loloy, the supposed gunman hired for the kill job. .

Garma and Leonardo allegedly ordered the killing, while Mendoza and Mariano looked for the hitman.

Also to be included in the complaint is PCSO personnel Sergeant Jeremy Causapin alias Toks, who allegedly handed the payment from Garma. —KBK, GMA Integrated News