The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have escalated their legal actions by filing murder and attempted murder charges against Royina Garma, the former general manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), and several accomplices. The charges stem from the assassination of Wesley Barayuga, a retired police general and former PCSO board secretary, which occurred in July 2020 near the PCSO’s main office in Mandaluyong City.
In a detailed referral to the Department of Justice (DOJ), the NBI outlined that they had amassed enough evidence to prosecute Garma, along with retired police colonel Edilberto Leonardo and Jeremy Causapin, known as ‘Toks’. The charges also extend to Police Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza, former police officer Nelson Mariano, an individual known only as ‘Lolo’, and several unidentified persons referred to as John Does.
The case saw significant developments in September 2024 when Mendoza testified before the House Quad Committee, revealing that Garma and Leonardo were the masterminds behind the deadly ambush on Barayuga. This testimony was a crucial breakthrough in the ongoing investigation.
The collaborative effort between the NBI’s Organized and Transnational Crimes Division and the PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group was conducted under the guidance of DOJ Department Order No. 771, issued by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla. This joint operation underscores the commitment of Philippine law enforcement to bring justice in high-profile cases.