News Roundup 27 September 2024
Sep 27, 2024 • 5 min Read
Witness: Ex-PCSO, Napolcom execs allegedly ordered Barayuga’s assassination | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — A police lieutenant colonel on Friday, September 27, testified that retired police chief Royina Garma and national police commissioner Edilberto Leonardo orchestrated the assassination of retired police general Wesley Barayuga in 2020.
During the House quadcom’s seventh public hearing, police officer Santie Mendoza could not hold back tears when he confessed to lawmakers that he participated in the killing of Barayuga.
Mendoza is currently working at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Drug Enforcement Group Headquarters. In 2019, he was a police major assigned to the Deputy Chief PNP for Administration.
According to Mendoza’s sworn statement, it was Garma and Leonardo — his upperclassmen at the PNP Academy — who ordered him to find a hitman to kill Barayuga as early as 2019, citing his alleged involvement in illegal drug activities as the motive.
“I received a call from Police Colonel Edilberto Leonardo, who informed me that he had a special project involving a high-value individual suspected of being involved in illegal drug activities,” Mendoza said in Filipino.
Mendoza said that he, along with three others identified as Nelson Mariano, “Loloy” and “Toks,” carried out the operation to kill Barayuga in July 2020.
After completing the operation, Mendoza stated that Leonardo informed him of a P300,000 cash reward from Garma. The amount was split between Mendoza, Loloy and Mariano, with Mendoza receiving P40,000.
Mendoza explained that it was Toks, a subordinate of Garma, who handed them the cash incentive.
Full Story at: Witness: Ex-PCSO, Napolcom execs allegedly ordered Barayuga’s assassination | Philstar.com
Duterte-appointed PCSO exec hired seven family members | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Retired police chief Royina Garma on Friday, September 27, confirmed to lawmakers that she hired seven family members when she was the general manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) in 2019.
At the House quadcom’s seventh public hearing, Rep. Dan Fernandez (Santa Rosa, Lone District) asked Garma how many relatives she employed at the PCSO.
“During the time you were the general manager of PCSO, do you remember that you have appointed several members of your family? How many?” Fernandez asked.
It took Garma some time to respond as she was trying to recall how many, but Fernandez pressed her.
The former PCSO general manager fumbled with her words and then said it was “more or less five, I’m sure more than five.”
However, Fernandez said it was seven, which Garma confirmed when the lawmaker mentioned seven names of her relatives.
This included her first cousins, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, even her daughter. The positions they took were that of a nurse, IT consultant, admin officer, private secretary and researcher.
Hiring her daughter
Fernandez surprised Garma when he asked if she hired her daughter as a confidential agent at PCSO.
Garma confirmed this as well and began answering defensively when Fernandez mentioned her daughter’s mental disorders.
Full Story at: Duterte-appointed PCSO exec hired seven family members | Philstar.com
Nicolas Torre officially assumes post as CIDG chief | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Police Brigadier General Nicolas Torre III on Thursday officially assumed his post as the 49th acting director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).
Torre took over from Police Major General Leo Francisco in a turnover ceremony held today at the CIDG Headquarters in Camp Crame.
Francisco said Torre is the right official to lead the CIDG, citing his “extensive experience.”
“PBGen Torre’s extensive experience in handling complex criminal investigations and his dedication to public service make him the right person to lead CIDG,” Francisco said in his speech.
“I am confident that under his leadership, CIDG will continue its relentless efforts to combat crime and protect the public,” he added.
During his stint as Police Regional Office 11 chief, Torre led the arrest of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy last Sept. 8.
As the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) chief, he introduced a “three-minute response time” policy for criminal cases.
However, Torre’s time as QCPD chief was not without controversies. He resigned on August 30, 2023, after receiving backlash for holding a press conference with dismissed policeman Wilfredo Gonzales, who was caught on video threatening a cyclist with a gun.
Story at: Nicolas Torre officially assumes post as CIDG chief (inquirer.net)
Quad comm mulls proposing death penalty revival for heinous crimes | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives’ quad committee may propose the revival of the death penalty for heinous offenses, in response to the panel’s discovery of different crimes, lead presiding officer Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said.
Barbers, in his opening speech at the quad committee hearing on Friday, named several laws that may be part of their recommendations regarding amendments.
At the end of the list is a proposal to revive capital punishment, as it can be an “effective deterrent” to the commission of heinous crimes.
“The quad comm’s mission encompasses more than just exposing criminal activities — it intends to address systemic gaps and implement enduring reforms through well-crafted legislation such as […] (a) review (of) the need to revive the death penalty on certain heinous crimes as an effective deterrent to the commission thereof,” Barbers said.
“We have been going back and forth in death penalty discussions in the past. Look at what has happened. The peace and order situation of our country worsened. Criminals are no longer afraid. Assassinations, which we know as extrajudicial killings, are rampant,” he added in Filipino.
Full Story at: Quad-comm may propose death penalty revival for heinous crimes (inquirer.net)
