2 PDEG cops relieved for reinvestigation of PCSO exec’s slay

Manila: Two police officers assigned to the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) have been relieved from their posts amid the reinvestigation into the killing of retired police general and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga. In a press briefing at Camp Crame, Quezon City on Monday, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said a relief order was issued to Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza and Col. Hector Grijaldo last week. "Mendoza was relieved and he was put under restrictive custody at the Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit in Camp Crame to ensure his appearance in the investigation that we would undertake," Fajardo said. She said the order came after PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil directed the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to lead the reinvestigation, reevaluate all evidence and work closely with other relevant agencies to ensure the process is thorough, impartial, and transparent. She said the CIDG would do a backtracking an d determine whether there was negligence and cover-up on the part of the police investigators who handled the case. 'Based on the statements of the chief PNP, one thing is clear. As to whom this investigation would point to, he doesn't care. We will proceed where the evidence will lead us. There would be no sacred cows in this investigation," Fajardo said. During last week's hearing of the House Quad Committee (QuadComm), Mendoza implicated former PCSO general manager Royina Garma in the 2020 assassination of Barayuga in Mandaluyong City. Grijaldo, meanwhile, was the chief of police of Mandaluyong City when Barayuga was killed. Mendoza said he was contacted by National Police Commission Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo in October 2019 and said Barayuga was a high-value target due to his alleged links with illegal drugs. Mendoza said he was convinced by Leonardo to talk to police informant Nelson Mariano and find out if he can find somebody who can kill Barayuga. Mendoza alleged Mariano hired a certain 'L oloy' to carry out the assassination. Fajardo said Mariano, along with other resource persons, would be secured during the re-investigation. Reports showed that a motorcycle-riding gunman shot Barayuga who was inside his car on Calbayog St. in Barangay Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City in July 2020. Source: Philippines News Agency