AN active lieutenant colonel of the Philippine National Police has alleged that former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Officer (PCSO) General Manager Royina Garma ordered the assassination of a fellow PCSO official in 2020.
In a sworn statement, Police Lt. Col. Santie Fuentes Mendoza – an active member of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group – has made shocking revelations about Garma, accusing her of ordering the murder of former police general Wesley Barayuga who was the PCSO board secretary at the time of the killing.
Garma was implicated by at least four Quad Comm resource persons as the individual who reportedly relayed instructions to execute three suspected Chinese drug lords inside the Davao Prison and Penal Farm in 2016, at the onset of the previous administration’s bloody drug war.
The killings implicated former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte who allegedly congratulated Supt. Gerardo Padilla, the former warden of the Davao Prison and Penal Farm, through a phone call after self-confessed hitmen Leopoldo “Tata” Tan Jr. and Fernando “Andy” Magdadaro murdered three suspected Chinese drug lords Chu Kin Tung, Li Lan Yan and Wong Meng Pin inside the prison.
The killings of the Chinese prisoners, as corroborated by several witnesses, are cited as evidence of the widespread extrajudicial killings (EJK) linked to the controversial anti-drug campaign.
Mendoza’s affidavit details a chain of events that purportedly led to the execution of Barayuga, perpetrated in broad daylight in Mandaluyong City in 2020.
He said the plot began in October 2019, when Police Col. Edilberto Leonardo contacted him about a “special project” involving the elimination of Barayuga, who was allegedly involved in illegal drug activities.
Mendoza said that despite his initial hesitation, he was pressured into agreeing to the plan because the order had come directly from Garma, then PCSO General Manager and a former PNP official.
“Sinabi ni Colonel Leonardo na ang pagsasagawa ng proyektong ito ang magdidikta sa direksyon ng aking karera bilang isang pulis,” said Mendoza in his sworn statement.
He also noted that Garma had allegedly provided personal knowledge of Barayuga’s supposed illegal activities, making it difficult for him to refuse the assignment.
Further details reveal that the plot to kill Barayuga was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, which restricted movement and government operations.
However, the plan resumed in June 2020, when Leonardo followed up with Mendoza, stressing the urgency of the mission.
“Matapos lumuwag ang mga lockdown measures at restrictions, muling nakipag-ugnayan sa akin si Colonel Leonardo noong Hunyo 2020 at binigyang-diin ang kahalagahan ng proyekto, lalo na’t matagal na ang lumipas mula sa kanyang paunang utos,” he said.
“Sa kanyang panghihikayat, sumang-ayon ako na muling kausapin si Nelson Mariano upang alamin kung may nahanap na siyang taong angkop para sa itinakdang gawain,” Mendoza added.
Mariano is an informant of the PNP who allegedly knows people who can undertake the assassination.
According to Mendoza, Mariano was responsible for hiring the hitman, identified only as “Loloy.”
“Sinabi niya na maaasahan si ‘Loloy’ at kayang tapusin ang ibinigay na gawain,” he said.
The most damning part of Mendoza’s affidavit accuses Garma of direct involvement in facilitating the assassination.
Mendoza stated that Garma herself provided a photograph of Barayuga during a PCSO meeting to aid the hitmen in identifying the target.
“Sinabi rin ni Colonel Leonardo na hindi na kami mahihirapan sa pagsasagawa ng operasyon dahil nag-isyu na si Ma’am Garma ng isang service vehicle para gamitin ni Wesley Barayuga, at binigay sa akin ang deskripsyon at plate number ng sasakyan,” he said in his sworn statement.
“Sinabi niya na maaari na naming tirahin si Wesley Barayuga pagkatapos niyang lumabas sa gusali. Ipinasa ko ang lahat ng impormasyong ito kay Nelson Mariano,” he added.
Following the successful assassination of Barayuga, Mendoza alleged that Garma had authorized a payment of P300,000 to the operatives involved in the hit, with the money being distributed by a middleman named “Toks.”
Mendoza claims he received P40,000 as his share of the payment, and further alleged that the operation was conducted under the supervision of both Garma and Col. Leonardo.
“Matapos na matagumpay na naisagawa ang operasyon, ipinaalam sa akin ni PCOL Leonardo na si Ma’am Garma ay nagbigay ng P300,000 bilang kabayaran para sa aming trabaho at ito ay iaabot ni ‘Toks’ sa aking middleman na si Nelson Mariano,” he said.
“At nang magkita kami ni Nelson, ay inabot niya sa akin ang halagang P40,000 bilang aking bahagi sa kabayaran,” he added.
The affidavit ends with Mendoza stating that his testimony was given voluntarily, without coercion or payment, and for the purpose of legal proceedings.
“Isinagawa ko ang salaysay na ito upang patunayan ang katotohanan ng mga nabanggit na pangyayari,” he said.
