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Garma, 6 others charged for Barayuga murder

MANILA, Philippines — Complaints for murder and frustrated murder were filed yesterday in connection with the 2020 killing of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga, according to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Among those charged before the Department of Justice (DOJ) were former PCSO general manager Royina Garma and former commissioner Edilberto Leonardo of the National Police Commission.

Also named respondents were Senior M/Sgt. Jeremy Zapata Causapin, alias Toks; Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza; former policeman Nelson Mariano; the hired gunman known only as Loloy, and an unidentified suspect.

The Organized and Transnational Crime Division of the NBI and the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) filed the cases following the completion of a joint probe ordered by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.

Garma, who allegedly masterminded the killing of Barayuga, left the Philippines in November last year. She was reportedly detained in the United States for alleged money laundering and human rights violations.

Garma and Leonardo allegedly ordered the killing of Barayuga shortly after he left the PCSO central office in Mandaluyong on July 30, 2020. He was reportedly planning to blow the whistle on corruption in the PCSO.

Barayuga died from gunshots to the head and body. His driver was injured, but survived the attack.

Mendoza and Mariano allegedly contacted the hitman. Causapin, said to be a PCSO employee, reportedly handed to Mendoza the payment from Garma.

The NBI formed a composite team to work with the CIDG in building a case and identifying those responsible for Barayuga’s murder.

Despite previous investigations by the NBI and police, the case remained unsolved for four years due to lack of witnesses.

During a House of Representatives quad committee hearing on Sept. 27, 2024, Mendoza and Mariano admitted their involvement in the crime and tagged Garma as the alleged brains.

The DOJ will evaluate if Mendoza and Mariano may be considered state witnesses. Their statements were backed by findings of the NBI and CIDG probes.

The complaints against the suspects were transmitted to Prosecutor General

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