Duterte drug war targeted enemies, solons say in Barayuga case

MANILA, Philippines—Testimonies from an active police official about the killing of former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga provide further evidence that the drug war was used by the previous administration against its enemies, according to former and current lawmakers.

At the seventh hearing of the House of Representatives’ quad committee on Friday, Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong noted similarities between Barayuga’s killing and the branding of former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Mabilog as an alleged narco-politician. Adiong said both instances were efforts to target opponents of the past administration.

“This is a pattern that happened, that the drug war of the previous administration was used to link personalities who may not be allies or may not agree with policies, like what happened to the former mayor of Iloilo City, Mabilog,” Adiong said. “I think the committee has to dig deeper into this because the case of the war on drugs, based on the testimony of our witnesses, was used not to run after big drug pushers.”

“But it was also made a way to justify those who are not necessarily part or a friend to that administration, use that as a way to link them to the issue of illegal drugs, they were victimized, not only for assassination but even use that as a political assassination,” he added.

Adiong’s statement followed testimony from Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza, an active police official, who implicated two former police colonels — National Police Commission (Napolcom) Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo and former PCSO general manager Royina Garma — in Barayuga’s killing, which occurred in July 2020.

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In his sworn affidavit, Mendoza said Leonardo contacted him about a high-value drug target, naming Barayuga. When Mendoza expressed hesitation, Leonardo allegedly told him that the operation would benefit his career.

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According to Mendoza, Leonardo sent him a synopsis implicating Barayuga in the illegal drug trade. Mendoza said he intended to conduct his own study, but Leonardo claimed the operation already had Garma’s approval.

However, Antipolo 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop, a former police general, asked the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) if Barayuga had been included in the previous administration’s drug list.

PDEA Director General Moro Virgilio Lazo responded that Barayuga was only included in the list after his death.

“Definitely there was a conspiracy to kill Atty. Barayuga. Now let’s debunk the CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) theory that Atty. Barayuga is involved in the drug trade.  May I ask PDEA, in the original list, is Atty. Wesley Barayuga’s name included?” Acop asked.

“Mr. Chairman, Your Honor, no sir,” Lazo replied.

“No. And was there ever a time that his name was included in the list or the watch list in the drug war?” Acop asked again.

“Your Honor, his name was included in the August 20, 2020 list and that is the third list. So in the first and second list, his name is not there,” Lazo answered.

Barayuga was killed on July 30, 2020.

Acop believes Barayuga’s name was added to justify his killing, asserting that the real motive was the late PCSO board secretary’s efforts to reform the provision of small town lottery (STL) franchises.

“Yes.  His name was placed there so there would be a basis for the theory that this is a drug-related case.  It was just placed there.  That’s why the real motive is the hard-headedness of (former PCSO) chairman Anselmo Simeon) Pinili, in objecting to all the recommendations of General Manager Garma, to increase the number of franchises,” Acop said.

In-depth probe

Former Bayan Muna lawmaker Neri Colmenares said an in-depth investigation is necessary, as the hearings have uncovered significant evidence related to extrajudicial killings and an alleged scheme to finance police officers involved.

“The hearings have unearthed vital evidence that warrants a comprehensive investigation. We need to delve deeper into how individuals like former Police Colonels Royina Garma and Roland Vilela acquired unconscionably large sums of money,” Colmenares stated, referring to claims that Garma’s security officer supposedly transferred millions of pesos to Vilela’s dollar account.

Vilela is Garma’s former husband, as their marriage was declared void.

Colmenares also suggested that former President Rodrigo Duterte, as commander-in-chief of the uniformed personnel, should be held accountable for these issues.

“Only President Duterte has the authority to orchestrate the first element of a widespread or systematic attack,” he said.

Barayuga was shot dead by a lone assailant aboard a motorcycle in July 2020 while on his way home from the PCSO headquarters in Mandaluyong City.

In an interview with the *Inquirer*, then-Mandaluyong City Police Chief Col. Hector Grijaldo Jr. said Barayuga suffered injuries in the head, near the neck, and under one armpit.

At the time, police said they were looking into an old grudge and Barayuga’s work as a board secretary as possible motives.

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