The Philippine National Police (PNP) through its Internal Affairs Service (IAS) officially reopened its investigation into the possible liability of policemen tagged in the murder of retired police general and late Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga.
Lawyer and IAS Inspector General Brigido Dulay said the internal probe looks into the testimony of Lieutenant Colonel Santie Mendoza, who implicated former PCSO general manager Royina Garma and Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo of the National Police Commission (Napolcom).
PNP Chief General Rommel Francisco Marbil ordered the reinvestigation. Dulay said the IAS already coordinated with the House Quad Committee regarding the revelations of Mendoza during last week’s public hearing.
“All personalities who were mentioned will be included in the probe. But remember, the hearing is not over yet and the Quad Comm said it would reveal more pieces of evidence in the next hearings. The IAS is keeping a close watch on these new pieces of evidence, if any,” Dulay said in a press briefing at Camp Crame.
Barayuga’s death is being linked in the spate of extrajudicial killings that happened during the Duterte administration. Mendoza claimed his murder plot were drawn upon the orders of Garma and Leonardo.
Dulay said their investigation would take about 45 days to 60 days just to gather evidence. He said summary dismissal proceedings would be undertaken if there is enough basis to formally charge those involved in the case.
“We are not just concentrating on Mendoza’s statement. We are also looking into those who are involved in the events, which led to Barayuga’s killing, especially those who are involved in his inclusion in the drug list,” Dulay added.
The PNP-IAS chief said Mendoza may face dismissal from the service, emphasizing that the murder of a government official is a grave offense.
“Mendoza admitted it himself. He said he was ready to face the consequences when he appeared before the Quad Comm and revealed his role in Barayuga’s killing,” Dulay said.
Aside from Mendoza, Col. Hector Grijaldo, a former Mandaluyong City police chief, is currently under restrictive custody in Camp Crame.
Marbil earlier directed the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to re-investigate Barayuga’s killing to determine possible lapses and cover-ups in the handling of the case.
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