The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Matikas Class of 1983 extended its gratitude to the members of the House of Representatives Quad Committee for launching an inquiry into the 2020 assassination of the late police Brigadier General Wesley Barayuga.
Barayuga, who was working as Board Secretary of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) at the time of his murder, became the subject of a recent congressional hearing in connection with the spate extrajudicial killings (EJKs) that happened during the Duterte administration.
“Your persistent efforts and incisive line of questioning have given light and hope for the successful resolution of Wesley’s tragic assassination [four] years ago,” the PMA Matikas Class of 1983 said in an official statement signed by their president Enrique Dela Cruz.
“And in behalf of the family of our dear mistah, we also convey their profound gratitude for the identification of the suspected assailants. It may not bring our dear Wesley back, but it is reassuring that there are people in government, who are doing their best to bring the perpetrators to justice,” they added.
At the seventh Quad Comm public hearing on Friday, police Lt. Col. Santie Fuentes Mendoza accused former PCSO general manager Royina Garma and Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) of ordering a hit on Barayuga.
Both Garma and Leonardo denied the allegations, saying they have no reason to eliminate Barayuga. They also claimed having no working relations with Mendoza that would authorize them to give him instructions.
Barayuga was killed on July 30, 2020 while driving home from his office in Mandaluyong City. He was reportedly shot by a lone gunman on a motorcycle. Based on initial investigation by authorities, his death had nothing to do with the war on drugs of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
According to the Eastern Police District and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Barayuga’s murder might have been motivated by a personal grudge or had something to do with his work with the PCSO.
