SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go was informed several years ago of the possible motive behind the 2020 killing of former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary, retired Gen. Wesley Barayuga, who was also a member of Philippine Military Academy Matikas Class of 1983.
This revelation emerged during Friday’s seventh public hearing of the Quad Comm investigating extrajudicial killings (EJKs) linked to the Duterte administration’s brutal war on drugs, which also targeted political rivals and innocent individuals falsely accused of drug involvement after being deliberately included in the controversial drug list.
Former PCSO chair Anselmo Simeon Pinili, a retired general and classmate of Barayuga, admitted during the hearing that immediately after Barayuga’s assassination, he had shared details of the possible motive with Go and former Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Jesus Melchor Quitain.
During the hearing, Antipolo City 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop, a former police general and member of the PMA Magiting Class of 1970, pressed Pinili on the internal issues at the PCSO that may have contributed to Barayuga’s murder.
These issues centered around disagreements between then-PCSO General Manager Royina Garma and Barayuga regarding the issuance of board certificates for Small Town Lottery (STL) franchises, which Barayuga reportedly refused to sign without full board approval.
Acop, a lawyer who serves as vice chair to all four panels comprising the Quad Committee, suggested that these tensions played a significant role in the murder.
In his interpellation, Acop read from a text message Pinili had sent to Barayuga’s widow after the murder, which mentioned a “privileged communication” he had with Go and Quitain.
“What were those information that you shared with Quitain and Sen. Bong Go confidential?” Acop, chairman of the House Committee on Transportation, asked. “Hindi na confidential ngayon kasi masu-solve na ‘yung kaso.”
Pinili confirmed that he had informed Go and Quitain about the motive, stating, “Yes, Your Honor. I said this because we have also already known the motive. So I reported this to them.”
“Alam niyo na kung sino ang may kagagawan. Would that be correct?” Acop asked, to which Pinili replied, “Yes, Your Honor.”
Growing frustrated, Acop questioned why the information had been withheld for so long. “Alam ninyo ang totoong nangyari but you never did anything about it. Why? Because of fear. Am I correct?” he asked. Pinili responded, “Partly, Your Honor.”
“Partly. And which part is not true? Hindi ka makasagot. Anyway, bahala ka na sa iyong mga classmates. Dapat nga nagsasabi ka na ng buong katotohanan dito eh dahil maso-solve na yung pagkamatay ng classmate mo,” Acop said.
Pinili, who had recruited Barayuga to the PCSO, described the late official as a “simple, modest, and honorable man.”
Earlier in the hearing, two resource persons testified before the Quad Committee, accusing Garma of masterminding Barayuga’s killing.
Police Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza claimed that Garma ordered Barayuga’s assassination in exchange for P300,000, a claim corroborated by retired Police Cpl. Nelson Mariano, who admitted to recruiting the hitman.
Mendoza explained that the plot began in October 2019 when Police Col. Edilberto Leonardo, now a commissioner of the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM), approached him with a “special project” to eliminate Barayuga and framed him for involvement in illegal drugs.
Despite initial hesitations, Mendoza complied, knowing the order came directly from Garma, who was known for her close ties to then-President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
Garma, a retired police colonel allegedly linked to the infamous Davao Death Squad, played a major role in Duterte’s controversial anti-drug campaign.
At least four witnesses implicated Garma in relaying orders to kill three suspected Chinese drug lords at a Davao prison in 2016.
Former President Duterte was also linked to these killings, allegedly congratulating then-prison warden Supt. Gerardo Padilla after hitmen Leopoldo “Tata” Tan Jr. and Fernando “Andy” Magdadaro killed the Chinese inmates—Chu Kin Tung, Li Lan Yan and Wong Meng Pin.
Former Cebu City Mayor Tommy Osmeña reported 198 killings during Garma’s assignment in Cebu from July 2018 to July 2019.
He also cited allegations that Garma received a P1 million weekly bribe while serving as chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Region 7.
Surigao del Sur 2nd District Rep. Johnny Pimentel described Garma as a “ruthless killer disguised as a meek lamb” after she was identified as the mastermind behind Barayuga’s murder.
Pimentel urged the Quad Comm to recommend murder charges against Garma and Leonardo in its report.
Barayuga was shot and killed by a motorcycle-riding assailant around 3:30 p.m. on July 30, 2020.
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