Murder raps filed vs Garma, 6 others over PCSO exec’s slay
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Former Police Col. Royina Garma is overcome by emotions as she reads her statement during a House quad committee
hearing on Oct. 11, 2024. (SCREENGRAB FROM HOR LIVE STREAMING)
MANILA, Philippines — and several other individuals are facing formal complaints for murder and frustrated murder over the killing of then Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Board Secretary Wesley Barayuga in 2020.
The Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed the complaints before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday.
“Following the investigation, sufficient pieces of evidence were gathered to recommend the filing of charges,” NBI Director Jaime Santiago said in a letter addressed to Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon.
Apart from Garma, former National Police Commission commissioner Edilberto Leonardo was also named among the respondents to the complaints, as well as the following:
- Police Sr. Master Sergeant Jeremy Causapin
- Police Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza
- police informant Nelson Mariano;
- An individual with an alias “Loloy”
- A certain “John Doe”
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Meanwhile, the NBI also recommended making Mendoza and Mariano state witnesses following their admissions during a House of Representatives Quad Committee hearing where they tagged Garma and Leonardo as the mastermind behind Barayuga’s assassination.
Article continues after this advertisementA preliminary investigation is then expected to be held with the complaints now with the DOJ.