Two accused in the 2020 killing of retired police general and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga have surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
NBI Director Jaime B. Santiago confirmed that Lt. Col. Santie Fuentes Mendoza and dismissed policeman Nelson Enriquez Mariano are now in the bureau’s custody.
“Nung malaman ni Colonel Santie Mendoza at ni former officer Nelson Mariano na meron ng warrant of arrest, they contacted my OTCD (Organized and Transnational Crime Division) para sumu-render,” said Santiago.
He said that Mendoza was taken into custody last Sept. 29 while Mariano was picked up in Bacolod City last Sept. 30.
The Mandaluyong City Regional Trial Court (RTC) issued arrest orders against Mendoza and Mariano, and three other accused for murder of Barayuga and frustrated murder of driver Jun Gunao.
The arrest orders also covered former PCSO general manager and former police colonel Royina Garma, retired police colonel and former National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) commissioner Edilberto Leonardo, and Jeremy Causapin.
Santiago said the trial court will determine where Mendoza and Mariano will be detained while the case remains pending.
He noted that Mendoza and Mariano have been recommended by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to become state witnesses in the case.
Santiago recounted that during last year’s hearings conducted by the quad-committee (quad-comm) of the House of Representatives, Mendoza and Mariano revealed the involvement of all accused in the crime.
In the meantime, Santiago said law enforcement authorities continue to hunt down the other accused in the case.
“Meron kaming tracking team. Tina-track na sila, hinahanap na sila,” he assured.
Earlier, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the Department of Justice (DOJ) will seek the cancellation of Garma’s passport.
Garma left the Philippines last Sept. 7 for Malaysia to be a witness against former president Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands. (Jeffrey Damicog)
