P300K reward: Cop details alleged order to kill PCSO official in July 2020
An officer from the national police's drug enforcement group came forward on Friday with alleged details of a kill order that led to the death of Wesley Barayuga, board secretary of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) in 2020. PLtCol. Santi Mendoza attended as a witness of the House quad-committee investigating extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration's drug war. He narrated the alleged events leading up to the assassination of Barayuga, who was shot dead inside a moving vehicle by an unidentified man on a motorcycle on July 30, 2020 in Mandaluyong City. Mendoza implicated then-PCSO general manager Royina Garma, as well as Edilberto Leonardo, former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief in Davao region, in the assassination plot. He recounted he had been told that Barayuga was a "high-value target" due to his supposed ties with illegal drugs. The officer, who was visibly emotional during his testimony, also gave details of how he allegedly enlisted the help of his long-time informant to hire a hitman. He went on allege that they received a P300,000 prize money from Garma which they divided among themselves. During his interpellation of Mendoza, Surigao del Sur Second District Rep. Johnny Pimentel, citing reports, claimed that Barayuga had been "ready to testify" about supposed corrupt practices in the PCSO under the leadership of Garma. The lawmaker also alleged that the SUV which carried Barayuga when he was killed had been given to him by Garma, so that he would be easier to identify once the assassination plot was carried out. Earlier in the hearing, and prior to the appearance of Mendoza, Garma denied assigning a vehicle to Barayuga and having any problems with him during their tenure in the PCSO. She also recalled being surprised by the killing of Barayuga. 00:00 Santi Mendoza attends the House quad-committee hearing 03:38 Mendoza turns emotional as he gives his opening statement 06:31 Mendoza: "Ako po ay nalinlang" 07:25 Mendoza says he hopes justice will be service in the killing of Wesley Barayuga 07:51 Mendoza apologizes to the family of Barayuga 08:28 Mendoza reads his affidavit related to the death of Barayuga 09:22 Mendoza implicates Edilberto Leonardo 11:46 Mendoza implicates Royina Garma 12:33 Mendoza recalls recruiting Nelson Mariano to help him find a hitman 14:16 Mendoza says he and Mariano were told by Leonardo that Barayuga was involved in illegal drugs 14:38 Mendoza mentions an alleged personnel of Garma who gave further instructions 15:15 Mendoza recalls finding a hitman called "Loloy" through Mariano 15:51 Mendoza recounts the day of the assassination 16:46 Mendoza: "Sinabi niya na puwede na naming tirahin si Wesley Barayuga" 17:04 Mendoza claims they received P300,000 from Garma through her right-hand man as prize money 18:39 House quad-comm shows CCTV footage of the killing of Barayuga Subscribe to the ABS-CBN News channel! - http://bit.ly/TheABSCBNNews Watch full episodes on iWantTFC for FREE here: http://iwanttfc.com Visit our website at http://news.abs-cbn.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abscbnNEWS Twitter: https://twitter.com/abscbnnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abscbnnews
