Anti-drug police bares kill order for PCSO exec in 2020

Metro Manila, Philippines — An officer from the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group detailed on Friday, Sept. 27, a supposed order for him to kill Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Board Secretary Wesley Barayuga in 2020.

A motorcycle driver gunned down Barayuga in his vehicle on his way home from his office in Mandaluyong City in July 2020.

Reading his sworn statement, PLtCol Santie Mendoza told the quad committee at the House of Representatives that National Police Commission (Napolcom) Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo and former PCSO General Manager Royina Garma were behind the killing.

The two denied the allegation. Both of them were also linked to the murder of three Chinese drug convicts at the Davao Prison and Penal Farm in 2016.

The committee is investigating the connection between illegal offshore gaming operations, illegal drugs, extrajudicial killings, and the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

Mendoza said that in October 2019, Leonardo would give him a “special project” for a high-value individual suspected to be connected with illegal drug activities.

In February 2020, Leonardo provided more details to Mendoza: the name Wesley Barayuga and a synopsis of the PCSO official’s ties to illegal drugs.

“Matapos matanggap ang impormasyon, sinabi ko kay Police Colonel Leonardo na dahil isang opisyal ng gobyerno ang target, mahalaga na magsagawa ako ng sarili kong beripikasyon, ngunit sinabi niya na hindi na ito kinakailangan dahil ang utos ay mula kay GM Garma (dating Police Colonel Royina Garma) na may personal na kaalaman tungkol sa mga ilegal na aktibidad ng droga ni Wesley Barayuga,” Mendoza said.

[Translation: After receiving the information, I told Police Colonel Leonardo that since the target was a government official, it was important to conduct my own verification, but he said it was not needed because the order came from GM Garma who had personal information regarding Wesley Barayuga’s illegal drug activities.]

Mendoza said he was forced to follow Leonardo since he was a higher officer and an upperclassman at the military academy, and that the order came from Garma, a government official.

Mendoza said the COVID-19 pandemic made the slay attempt difficult due to mobility restrictions. Mendoza said Leonardo followed up in June 2020, and on July 30, 2020 to say that the operation was now a go.

The anti-drug cop contacted Nelson Mariano, his former informant who has a network for a hitman. A certain “Loloy” was hired.

“Sinabi rin ni Colonel Leonardo na hindi na kami mahihirapan sa pagsasagawa ng operasyon dahil nag-isyu na si Ma’am Garma ng isang service vehicle para gamitin ni Wesley Barayuga, at binigay sa akin ang deskripsyon at plate number ng sasakyan,” Mendoza said.

[Translation: Colonel Leonardo also said that we will not find the operation difficult because Ma’am Garma issued a service vehicle for Wesley Barayuga. Leonardo gave me the car’s description and license plate.]

Based on Mendoza’s statement, Garma paid ₱300,000 for the operation. The payment was given by a certain “Toks” to Mariano. Mendoza’s share was ₱40,000.

Asked why he was scared of Leonardo, Mendoza told the panel: “I cannot elaborate more, your honor, pero common knowledge sa operatiba pag sinabi mong Colonel Leonardo at Ma’am Garma nasa gilid ‘yan ng former president (Rodrigo Duterte).”

[Translation: I cannot elaborate more, your honor, but it was common knowledge that in the operatives, when you say Colonel Leonardo and Ma’am Garma, they are close to the former president.]

A retired police colonel, Garma was appointed by Duterte as PCSO general manager from 2019 to 2022.

Motive

Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel said at the time Barayuga was killed, there was an ongoing National Bureau of Investigation probe on the corruption in PCSO, specifically in the operations of small town lottery.

“According to [former] NBI OIC Eric Distor, Barayuga was prepared with all documents and he was in fact to testify against corruption and illegal practices in PCSO,” Pimentel said.

“‘Yong nakita ninyong pick-up na sinakyan ni Barayuga was given by Garma to make sure na ma-identify si Barayuga, kasi sa Barayuga walang sasakyan ‘yon kaya mahirap i-surveillance dahil walang routinary procedure,” Pimentel said.

[Translation: The pick-up driven by Barayuga was given by Garma to make sure that he would be identified. Barayuga does not own a car, that's why it was hard to put him under surveillance because of lack of routinary procedure.]

Asked by lawmakers, Garma and Leonardo said they were surprised with Mendoza’s statement. Both denied the allegations.

“Maganda po, wala po kaming conflict, nag-uusap kami [We had a good relation, there was no conflict, we talked with each other],” Garma also said of her relationship with Barayuga.

“I appeal that we should include in the committee report to file murder charges against Colonel Garma and Colonel Leonardo,” Pimentel said.

Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro, meanwhile, made a motion to put Mendoza and Mariano under the witness protection program.