Murdered retired general and PCSO board secretary Wesley Barayuga —PCSO
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Bong Go was reportedly “informed several years ago” of the possible motive for the killing of retired general and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga in July 2020, a former PCSO official revealed.
The information came from former PCSO chair Anselmo Simeon Pinili, a retired general and classmate of Barayuga, who belonged to the Philippine Military Academy Matikas Class of 1983.
Pinili was questioned by Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop—a former police general and member of the PMA Magiting Class of 1970—during the seventh hearing of the lower chamber’s quad committee, which consists of panels on dangerous drugs; public order, and safety; public accounts; and human rights.
READ: Garma ordered PCSO exec’s killing, narc tells House
Pinili alleged that he had shared details of the possible motive behind the killing of Barayuga with Go and former Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Jesus Melchor Quitain, shortly after the retired general’s death.
“What were those information that you shared with Quitain and Sen. Bong Go confidential? Hindi na confidential ngayon kasi masu-solve na ’yung kaso (It’s not confidential anymore because the case will soon be solved),” Acop asked.
“Yes, Your Honor. I said this because we have also already known the motive. So I reported this to them (Go and Quitain),” Pinili answered.
“Alam niyo na kung sino ang may kagagawan (You know the person behind this). Would that be correct?” Acop further asked.
“Yes, Your Honor,” Pinili said.
Acop questioned him again on why they did not act on this information.
Because of fear
“[…] Why? Because of fear. Am I correct?” he asked, to which Pinili said: “Partly, Your Honor.”
INQUIRER.net sought the side of Go through his official Facebook page and email, but he has yet to reply as of posting time.
Earlier, Police Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza said he was ordered to arrange the assassination of Barayuga allegedly by retired police colonel Royina Garma and National Police Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo for P300,000 during the pandemic. The order was reportedly relayed to him by Leonardo.
Findings from previous hearings also revealed Garma’s alleged connection with the killing of three suspected Chinese drug lords at a Davao prison in 2016.
Following Mendoza’s revelation, the Philippine National Police (PNP) likewise ordered the reopening of the investigation on Barayuga’s murder case.
According to PNP, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group has been tasked with leading the reinvestigation.
Barayuga was shot dead in July 2020 on his way home from the PCSO headquarters in Mandaluyong City.
Police said the lawyer was gunned down by an unidentified assailant on a motorcycle along the corner of Calbayog and Malinaw Streets in Brgy. Highway Hills.
Barayuga suffered injuries in the head, near the neck, and one under the armpit.
Authorities were looking into an old grudge and his work as a board secretary who signs important official resolutions and PCSO documents as among possible motives behind the attack.