Manila: The Philippine National Police - Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) has launched an investigation into the administrative accountability of police officers implicated in the killing of retired police general and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga.

According to Philippines News Agency, the internal probe was initiated following testimony from Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza, who revealed during a House of Representatives hearing that he was ordered by former PCSO general manager Royina Garma and National Police Commission commissioner Edilberto Leonardo to kill Barayuga. Mendoza's testimony came during the seventh hearing of the House Quad Committee (Quadcom) on alleged extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration.

Dulay stated that the IAS investigation will focus on Mendoza’s claims, as well as any additional evidence that emerges during the ongoing hearings. Mendoza had alleged that in October 2019, Leonardo, at Garma’s request, directed him to target Barayuga. Mendoza, obeying the order of his Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) seniors, asked a certain "Loloy" to execute the hit.

The IAS is coordinating with Quadcom as more evidence is expected to be presented in future hearings. Dulay indicated that the internal investigation could take between 45 to 60 days to gather sufficient evidence. Summary dismissal proceedings will be conducted if the evidence warrants formal charges against those involved.

Aside from Mendoza, Col. Hector Grijaldo, a former Mandaluyong City police chief, is currently under restrictive custody in Camp Crame. Dulay emphasized that Mendoza faces dismissal from service for his role in the crime. He added that the investigation is not limited to Mendoza's actions but also seeks to determine how Barayuga ended up on a drug list and identify all individuals involved in his murder.

In response to the new findings, PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil directed the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to re-investigate Barayuga’s killing, particularly to identify potential lapses or cover-ups in the initial handling of the case. Barayuga was shot dead by a motorcycle-riding gunman while inside his car on Calbayog Street in Barangay Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City in July 2020.