A congressman urges the Department of Justice (DOJ) to immediately file murder charges against former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Royina Garma and former PCol. Edilberto Leonardo.
The call of Surigao Del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers came in response to the testimonies of PLtCol. Santi Mendoza and drug informant Nelson Mariano in the investigation of the House of Representatives on the alleged extrajudicial killings during the Administration of Former President Rodrigo Duterte.
During the hearing last Friday, September 27, the two testified regarding the involvement of Garma and Leonardo on the assasination of PCSO Board Secretary Wesley Barayuga in 2020.
Barbers chairs the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, one of the four committees conducting the investigation.
"We are in close coordination with the DOJ. They have representatives monitoring our hearings precisely because we are unearthing evidence of criminal activities and other acts of wrongdoing in the course of our inquiry," Barbers said in a statement
"They should interview our two witnesses last Friday and assess their testimonies," he added.
The congressman also insists that the DOJ does not have to wait for the joint committee report of the House panels involved in the inquiry before filing charges against Garma and Leonardo .
"They do not have to wait for the report of the joint committee, which will include a recommendation to file such charges. The panel will take time to write the report since the inquiry is still ongoing," Barbers stressed.
During the hearing, Mendoza said that he received a call from Leonardo in October 2019, and he asked for help on an operation involving a high-value drug personality, later identified as Barayuga.
Mendoza testified that Leonardo said that the order came from Garma, and that one of her alleged aides provided additional information on Barayuga.
The police officer said that he directed the aide, known as 'Toks', to Mariano, who Mendoza tapped to find a hitman.
Mendoza further mentioned that he received a picture of Barayuga, allegedly taken by Garma, from Leonardo prior the assasination.
"The exchange of messages via Viber and the supposed photo of Barayuga taken by Garma during their PCSO meeting will strengthen the case against Garma and Leonardo," Barbers said.
