Duterte’s Trusted Aides Linked to Assassination of PCSO Official, House Probe Suggests

A police officer from the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group (PNP PDEG) has implicated high-ranking officials—and by extension, former President Rodrigo Duterte—in the 2020 killing of Wesley Barayuga, board secretary of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

Many believe this could suggest Duterte’s involvement in orchestrating the murder.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Santie Mendoza, an officer within the national police’s drug enforcement unit, testified on Friday, revealing chilling details about an alleged assassination plot that led to Barayuga’s death.

During a House quad-committee investigation, Mendoza named former PCSO General Manager Royina Garma and Napolcom Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo as key figures in the operation.

According to Mendoza, both Garma and Leonardo authorized the hit on Barayuga, who was reportedly deemed a “high-value target” due to alleged links to illegal drugs.

Barayuga was killed in broad daylight on July 30, 2020, in Mandaluyong City, shot by an unidentified assailant while inside a moving vehicle.

Mendoza’s testimony, however, adds a new layer of complexity to the case, with Surigao del Sur Second District Rep. Johnny Pimentel suggesting that Barayuga was about to testify against corrupt practices within the PCSO before his untimely death.

According to Mendoza, he was instructed by Leonardo to carry out the hit.

Initially hesitant, Mendoza explained that he reluctantly agreed when told that the order came directly from Garma, a former cabinet official, and that there was no need for further verification.

“I was hesitant to accept the order because the target was a government official,” Mendoza recounted.

“But I was forced to agree and follow because the order came from my upperclassman, Colonel Leonardo, and Ma’am Garma.”

Mendoza described how Garma had reportedly provided Barayuga with a service vehicle, which made it easier for the hitmen to identify and target him.

“Colonel Leonardo told me that Garma had issued a service vehicle for Barayuga, and he provided the description and plate number. We were told we could carry out the operation once he left the building,” Mendoza said.

After the assassination, Mendoza said Leonardo informed him that Garma had paid P300,000 for the operation.

Mendoza further testified that a man named “Toks” delivered the payment, which was then divided among the team.

Mendoza’s testimony drew emotional responses, particularly when he admitted to feeling remorse for the killing. “We killed an innocent person,” he said, tearing up as he read his affidavit.

During the hearing, Rep. Pimentel pointed out that Barayuga had been set to testify in an investigation into corruption within the PCSO, suggesting that his assassination may have been intended to silence him.

The lawmaker also raised suspicions about the SUV provided to Barayuga by Garma, implying it may have been a tool for tracking his movements to facilitate the murder.

Both Garma and Leonardo have denied any involvement in Barayuga’s death.

When asked to respond to Mendoza’s allegations, Garma expressed disbelief.

“I don’t know what he’s talking about. This is the first time I’ve heard his name,” Garma said in response to questions from Bukidnon Second District Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores. Leonardo echoed her surprise, stating, “I only met him once. Other than that, I don’t know him well.”

Despite the denials, Mendoza’s testimony has reignited discussions around extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration, particularly those carried out in the name of the drug war.

Critics have long alleged that Duterte and his allies, including figures linked to the so-called Davao Death Squad, orchestrated targeted killings of individuals linked to drugs and corruption.

Mendoza’s testimony further fuels suspicions that Barayuga’s death may have been part of this broader scheme.