Malacañang backed the possible filing of criminal and administrative charges against former National Police Commissioner (Napolcom) Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo, who recently resigned from his post following his implication in two high-profile murder cases.
But while the Palace supports holding officials accountable, Executive Lucas Bersamin clarified that the administration will not directly initiate charges. They will defer instead to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Office of the Ombudsman to determine the next steps based on the evidence.
“The Palace will support the filing but will leave the decision to file entirely to the DOJ or Ombudsman,” Bersamin told Palace reporters in a Viber message.
The DOJ and Ombudsman have yet to comment on the potential charges, as pressure from various sectors grows for a thorough investigation and possible prosecution.
Leonardo, who served as commissioner under the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), tendered his resignation on Oct. 4, 2024, which was formally accepted by President Ferdinand Marcos on Oct. 8 through a letter from Bersamin.
The resignation followed accusations linking him to the murder of former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga in 2020 and the deaths of three Chinese drug convicts at the Davao Prison and Penal Farm in 2016.
During a House quad committee hearing, Police Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza testified that Leonardo, along with former PCSO general manager Royina Garma, had conspired in Barayuga’s murder.
Leonardo was also accused of orchestrating the attack on the Chinese inmates.
Although Leonardo has denied the allegations, he was cited for contempt by the committee for disputing claims that he had met with former Davao penal farm warden Gerardo Padilla to discuss the killings.
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