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February 3, 2025 | 7:27pm
Retired police chief Royina Garma attends the fifth public hearing of the House's quadcom on Sept. 12, 2024.
House of Representatives / Release
MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) have filed murder complaints against former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Royina Garma and former National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo over the killing of PCSO board secretary Wesley Barayuga in 2020.
The complaints were filed before the Department of Justice on Monday, February 3.
Murder and frustrated murder charges were filed against former PCSO chief Garma, former NAPOLCOM Commissioner Leonardo, and six others, including Police Lt. Colonel Santie Mendoza and police informant Nelson Mariano.
Despite being named as respondents, Mendoza and Mariano were recommended as state witnesses due to their cooperation in the investigation.
“In light of the voluntary statements provided by Plt Col. Santie Fuentes Mendoza and Nelson Enriquez Mariano before the NBI, following their admissions during the House of Representatives Quad Committee hearing, which are corroborated by the findings of the joint investigation conducted by the NBI-OTCD and PNP-CIDG, it is recommended that the aforementioned respondents be considered for utilization as State Witnesses, in accordance with applicable laws,” the complaint read.
It can be recalled that on Sept. 27, 2024, Mendoza and Mariano identified Garma and Leonardo as the masterminds behind the Barayuga killing, a claim both Garma and Leonardo have denied.
In response to the allegations, Garma also testified before a House Quad committee hearing in October, claiming that former President Rodrigo Duterte had instructed her to implement the "Davao Model" nationwide, which included a reward system for police officers based on the number of drug suspects they killed.
Garma explained that the Davao Model is a three-tiered reward system for police officers. They can receive either a commendation, funding for "planned operations,” or reimbursements for operational costs.
The former PCSO chief is also expected to be deported from the United States after it canceled her visa last November.
