The family of the late former PCSO Board Secretary Wesley Barayuga expressed their gratitude to the House quad committee and witnesses who appeared in the hearing that led to the reopening of the murder case.
"Ang Pamilya Barayuga ay nagpapasalamat sa QuadCom at sa mga witnesesses na naglakas loob mag-testify at mabuksan muli ang kaso ng pagpatay kay Wesley A. Barayuga," the family said in a statement on October 1.
Basahin> statement ng pamilya ni dating PCSO Board Secretary Wesley Barayuga. Pasasalamat sa Quad Comm sa layunin na matukoy ang mga nasa likod ng pagpatay makalipas ang halos apat na taon @dzrhnews pic.twitter.com/ca4gI1F6CM
— milky rigonan đź’‹ (@milkyrigonan) October 2, 2024
The renewed discussion of the case provided the family with some comfort, even though they are aware that they are still far from achieving justice.
They added that after four years of waiting and being led to believe that there were efforts regarding the case of their loved one's death, it has become difficult for them to trust and hold onto hope.
"However, we believe that this is God’s way of serving justice and clearing Wesley A. Barayuga’s name whose case was alleged to be drug-related in a desperate attempt to cover up their tracks," the family said.
"Maraming salamat sa lahat ng nagsusuporta. We continue to ask for prayers as we heal from this tragedy," they added.
On September 27, two witnesses, Police Lieutenant Colonel Santie Mendoza of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Drug Enforcement Group and former Police Corporal Nelson Mariano, appeared before the quad-committee panel to detail what they know about Barayuga's murder.
According to the witnesses, former PCSO General Manager and NAPOLCOM Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo was behind the murder of Barayuga in 2020.
Mendoza's testimony revealed that Garma allegedly instructed Leonardo to have Barayuga killed.
Furthermore, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief PGen. Rommel Francisco Marbil has ordered the reopening of the investigation into Barayuga's murder.
