PNP internal affairs starts admin probe on cops in PCSO exec’s slay

Manila: The Philippine National Police – Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) has begun its investigation into the administrative liability of police officials tagged in the killing of retired police general and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga.

IAS Inspector General Brigido Dulay said the internal probe ordered by PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil includes Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza, who disclosed during a hearing at the House of Representatives that he was ordered by former PCSO general manager Royina Garma and National Police Commission commissioner Edilberto Leonardo to kill Barayuga.

He said the IAS has coordinated with the House Quad Committee (Quadcom) regarding the testimony of Mendoza during last week’s hearing.

‘Based on the statements of Santie Mendoza, our investigation will take off from there. All personalities who were mentioned will be included in the probe. But remember, the hearing is not over yet and the Quadcom said it would reveal more pieces
of evidence in the next hearings. The IAS is keeping a close watch on these new pieces of evidence, if any,” Dulay said in a press briefing in Camp Crame.

During the seventh hearing of the Quadcom on alleged extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration, Mendoza recounted that in October 2019, Leonardo, allegedly upon the request of then-PCSO general manager Garma, asked him to ‘operate’ on a high-value target, later identified as Barayuga.

Garma and Leonardo were Mendoza’s seniors or upperclassmen at the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA).

Mendoza said he obeyed his PNPA seniors’ instruction by asking Mariano to contact a potential hitman, a certain ‘Loloy.’

Dulay said their investigation would take about 45 days to 60 days just to gather evidence.

He said summary dismissal proceedings would be undertaken if there is enough basis to formally charge those involved in the case.

‘We are not just concentrating on Mendoza’s statement. We are also looking into those who are involved in the
events, which led to Barayuga’s killing, especially those who are involved in his inclusion in the drug list,” Dulay added.

He said Mendoza may face dismissal from the service, emphasizing that the murder of a government official is a grave offense.

“Mendoza admitted it himself. He said he was ready to face the consequences when he appeared before the Quadcom and revealed his role in Barayuga’s killing,’ Dulay said.

Aside from Mendoza, Col. Hector Grijaldo, a former Mandaluyong City police chief, is currently under restrictive custody in Camp Crame.

Marbil earlier directed the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to re-investigate Barayuga’s killing to determine possible lapses and cover-ups in the handling of the case.

Reports showed that a motorcycle-riding gunman shot Barayuga who was inside his car on Calbayog Street in Barangay Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City in July 2020.

Source: Philippines News Agency