PNP to reopen probe on PCSO exec slay

National

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) will reopen its investigation on the assassination of a former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) official.

This after former PCSO general manager Royina Garma and current National Police Commission (Napolcom) Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo are now being linked as the brains in the assassination of retired general and former PCSO board secretary Wesley Barayuga.

Police Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza, who came as a surprise witness in the September 27 inquiry by the House quad committee on extrajudicial killings during the drug war of the previous administration, tagged Garma and Leonardo as the ones who allegedly ordered the killing of Barayuga in 2020 for P300,000.

Mendoza said he first received a call from Leonardo in October 2019 about a “special project “ which involved a “high-value individual”. He was told at that time to wait for a “go signal.”

And then in February of the following year, Mendoza was informed that the target was Barayuga.

PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil said the new disclosure of Mendoza demands a thorough investigation of the murder.

“We are committed to uncovering the truth, regardless of the position or power of those involved. The public can rest assured that we will hold those responsible accountable,” Marbil said in a statement.

The PNP chief tasked the Criminal and Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to reevaluate the evidence in light of the new developments and to cooperate with other agencies ensuring a “thorough, impartial, and transparent process of investigation”.

Both Garma and Leonardo have denied involvement in the crime.

It was in July 2020 when Barayuga, who was a lawyer and a retired police general, was gunned down by an unidentified assailant on a motorcycle in Barangay. Highway Hills in Mandaluyong City.

Barayuga was on his way home when the assassination happened.(LAO)