Duterte denies knowing about Barayuga slay

Former President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday denied knowing about the killing of former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga during his administration in July 2020.

“Hindi ko alam kung anong sinasabi [ninyo] (I don't know what you're saying),” Duterte said during the House Quad Committee (QuadComm) hearing into his war on drugs.

Dutere was asked if he agreed that Barayuga was a victim of extrajudicial killing.

The former president said he was interested in knowing what happened. Duterte said he did not interfere in any way when asked if he investigated Barayuga’s death.

“Hindi ako nakiaalam diyan sir. That is a personal— Maybe, I do not— Wala akong ano na magpatay ng general,” Duterte said.

(I did not interfere. That is a personal— Maybe, I do not— I don’t have any [motive] to kill a general.)

Then-PCSO General Manager Royina Garma and then-Napolcom commissioner Edilberto Leonardo have been accused of ordering the kill job on Barayuga.

Both Garma and Leonardo have since denied the allegation.

Duterte said there should be cases filed on the killing already.

“There should be case by now or cases. There should be a case filed by now kung ganon. Lalo na kung general. So anong ginawa ng pulis pati military diyan? They should be more active,” he said.

The Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation will conduct a joint investigation into Barayuga’s case.

Barayuga’s widow is expected to file a murder complaint against Garma and others over the killing of her husband. Barayuga’s driver will also file a complaint for frustrated murder. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News