A LAWMAKER on Friday described retired police colonel and former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Royina Garma as “ruthless killer” who hides behind an innocent facade to commit brutal crimes.
Surigao del Sur 2nd District Rep. Johnny Pimentel made the statement after two witnesses testified before the House Quad Committee, accusing Garma of masterminding the July 2020 murder of PCSO board secretary and retired police general Wesley Barayuga.
“Mr. Chair, Col. Garma is a woman disguised as a meek lamb, but deep inside her, she is a ruthless killer, killing without mercy innocent people, killing without remorse innocent victims, especially in the war on drugs,” Pimentel said during the seventh hearing of the mega-panel investigating the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) linked to the Duterte administration’s brutal war on drugs.
Police Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza testified that Garma ordered Barayuga’s assassination in exchange for P300,000, a claim corroborated by retired Police Cpl. Nelson Mariano, who said he was responsible for recruiting the hitman.
Mendoza explained that the plot began in October 2019 when Police Col. Edilberto Leonardo approached him with a “special project” to eliminate Barayuga and falsely implicate him in illegal drug activities.
Initially hesitant, Mendoza said he felt compelled to comply because the order came directly from Garma, who was known for her close ties with then-President Duterte.
In his interpellation, Pimentel claimed that Garma orchestrated the murder to prevent Barayuga from exposing corruption within the PCSO.
“The motive of the killing of Gen. Barayuga was to stop General Barayuga from testifying against Col. Garma. ‘Yun po ang totoong nangyari, Mr. Chair,” Pimentel told the Quad Committee, chaired by Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers.
Pimentel accused Garma further of orchestrating several other killings, supported by testimony and evidence from multiple witnesses and resource persons presented to the committee.
At least four witnesses from the Quad Comm implicated Garma in relaying orders to kill three suspected Chinese drug lords at a Davao prison in 2016, during the onset of the Duterte administration’s controversial drug war.
Former President Duterte was also linked to the killings, allegedly congratulating then prison warden Supt. Gerardo Padilla, after hitmen Leopoldo “Tata” Tan Jr. and Fernando “Andy” Magdadaro killed the three Chinese inmates — Chu Kin Tung, Li Lan Yan and Wong Meng Pin.
These killings, confirmed by several witnesses, are seen as part of the widespread EJKs tied to the controversial anti-drug campaign.
Pimentel also cited that when Garma was assigned to Cebu City, there were 198 recorded killings, as reported by former Mayor Tommy Osmeña.
“And ngayon po, klarong-klaro po na ang mastermind ng pagpatay kay Gen. Barayuga ay walang iba po kung hindi si Col. Garma in cooperation, in cahoots with Col. Leonardo based on the testimony of our two resource persons,” Pimentel said.
He urged the committee to include a recommendation to file murder charges against Garma and Leonardo in its report.
According to Pimentel, the murder of Barayuga was directly linked to his role in exposing corruption within the PCSO, particularly in the operations of the Small Town Lottery (STL).
“At the time of Gen. Barayuga’s killing, he was working with the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) on an investigation into corruption at the PCSO,” Pimentel said.
Citing then NBI officer-in-charge Eric Distor, he added that Barayuga was “prepared with all the documents and, in fact, he was prepared to testify against the corruption and illegal practices in PCSO.”
Pimentel further noted that Garma provided Barayuga with the vehicle he used on the day of his assassination.
“‘Yung nakita po niyong pickup [van] kanina na sinakyan ni Gen. Barayuga was given by Col. Royina Garma to make sure na ma-identify po si Gen. Barayuga. Kasi si Gen. Barayuga wala hong sasakyan ‘yun,” Pimentel pointed out.
He added: “Kaya mahirap po i-surveillance dahil walang routinary procedure. Kaya binigyan po ni Col. Garma ng bagong pickup si General Barayuga. ‘Yun kasi ang binigay na impormasyon niya kay Nelson Mariano. Pati ang plate number, description sa araw ng pagpaslang.”
Barayuga was shot by an unidentified assailant on a motorcycle around 3:30 p.m. on July 30, 2020, while heading home from the PCSO office in Mandaluyong City.
