THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has organized tracker teams to run after the suspects who are still at large in connection with the 2020 killing of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) director and retired police Brig. Gen. Wesley Barayuga.
“The Philippine National Police respects and upholds the order of the Mandaluyong court. We are duty-bound to implement lawful orders issued by our courts, and the PNP is already preparing to carry out the necessary procedures to serve the warrant of arrest,” said PNP acting chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr.
Nartatez directed the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and other concerned units to coordinate with regional police offices and intelligence divisions to monitor movements of the suspects and execute arrests as soon as possible.
He stressed that the PNP will uphold due process while ensuring swift execution of the warrant.
“I have already directed the director, CIDG to create tracker teams to implement the arrest warrant. Other units were instructed to assist. The PNP is committed to swift and decisive action, with due consideration for the rights of all parties involved. Our priority is to bring the suspects before the proper court without delay,” he added.
The Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 279 issued arrest warrants against Garma, retired police colonel and former National Police Commission Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo, Lt. Col. Santie Fuentes Mendoza, dismissed policeman Nelson Enriquez Mariano, and Jeremy Causapin for murder over the killing of Barayuga.
In a hearing by the House of Representatives last year, Mendoza testified that Garma and Leonardo ordered the hit on Barayuga under the guise of an anti-drug operation, saying he complied out of fear due to their influence.
“The PNP has always maintained that the rule of law must prevail at all times. Regardless of one’s rank, status, or former position, all individuals are accountable under our justice system. The issuance of these warrants is a reminder that justice is not blind, and the PNP will carry out its mandate without fear or favor,” Nartatez stressed.
Early this month, the Bureau of Immigration confirmed that Garma travelled to Malaysia, just a day after her return to Manila from the United States.
Garma is the subject of an Immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) dated Nov. 15, 2024 for being a person of interest in a case from 2020 and another from 2016.
The BI adhered to the procedures outlined in the ILBO and informed the Department of Justice about the situation. Upon verification, however, there was no hold departure order or warrant of arrest issued against her.
Garma left the Philippines late last year after participating in several House Quad Committee hearings regarding the previous administration’s drug war, during which she confirmed the execution of the “Davao Model.”
In her affidavit submitted to the House committee, Garma implicated former President Rodrigo Duterte and his then-special assistant, now Senator Christopher Lawrence Go, in orchestrating a nationwide campaign that resulted in the extrajudicial killings of drug suspects.
