BACOLOD, Philippines – Even as the House of Representatives quad committee hearings unravel more details on the controversial killing of former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga, his widow is neither keen on joining the fray nor committed to suing the possible suspects.

In a personal letter and public statement Sarah Barayuga shared with Rappler on Thursday, October 24, she said she had no intention of stepping into the case of her husband despite the recent breakthroughs.

“I wish to clarify that I have not committed to signing the criminal complaint against the suspects involved in my husband’s death as I have not been informed of the evidence gathered so far or it’s strength in securing a conviction,” she said.

The Barayuga spouse, currently an employee at capitol in the province of Iloilo, also said that while she welcomed coordination with government investigative agencies regarding the case, she still believed that the Philippine National Police (PNP) had the authority to file file criminal cases against the suspects even without their help as complainants.

“Therefore, my signature should not be considered necessary for the case to proceed,”  she said.

Her late husband Wesley was former director of Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) director and assistant regional director of the Police Regional Office-Western Visayas (PRO6). He was murdered at the height of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs. He was waylaid while on his way home in Malabon in July 30, 2020.

His death was mourned by the Ilonggo community.

More than four years later, the killing of the former cop has become the focus in the quad committee hearings led and co-chaired by Surigao del Norte 2nd  District Representative Robert Ace Barbers.

The unexpected twists and turns, especially on the revelations of Police Lieutenant Colonel Santie Mendoza shocked the Barayuga family, local officials in Iloilo, and even the PRO6 higher ups.

Mendoza in his no-holds-barred revelation before the quad committee on September 27, testified how they murdered Wesley upon orders of then-PCSO chief Royina Garma, an allegation  which the latter repeatedly debunked.

But Mendoza said they even planned Barayuga’s assassination since October 2019 until the mission was finally carried out in Mandaluyong City on July 30, 2020 in the tune of P300,000 (murder money).

He then revealed the name of Edilberto Leonardo, former chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) as the one who executed the mission, with Garma as alleged mastermind.

The quad committee had already asked both the Philippine National Police (PNP) and National Bureau of Investigation to reopen probe on Barayuga’s murder.

But no less than Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas and incumbent PRO6 chief, Brigadier General Jack Wanky, expressed sadness and frustrations.

Wanky hoped for more breakthroughs in the upcoming reprobe of the case so truth will prevail, and justice be served soonest for the sake of Barayuga’s loved ones.

Much more when they heard from Mendoza that Wesley was killed upon orders of Garma.

The assassination of Wesley, Mendoza said, was allegedly linked to illegal drugs.

But Treñas and Wanky believe it was absurd to link Wasley’s murder to illegal drugs since they knew him when he was still ICPO director in 2006 to 2008, and deputy regional director for operations at PRO 6 in 2012.

Wesley, a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1983, was  already a household name in the Iloilo community not because he was assigned in the “City of Love” for quite sometime, but because he was also married to Sarah, an Ilongga who, until now, is still working at the provincial capitol of Iloilo.

Treñas told Rappler that he cannot believe until now that Wesley had a link with illegal drugs.

“He was one of the good-performing city directors under me during my first term as mayor,” he said.

It’s unfortunate to lose such a man like Wesley,  the mayor said.

For Wanky, Wesley, his former boss in the PNP both in the ICPO and PRO 6, was a no-nonsense senior police officer.

“He (Barayuga) was really known for his good qualities and reputation. I knew…we knew him well,” Wanky described of his superior.

Wesley, who was also a lawyer, was an honest man and straightforward, too, the PRO 6 director added.

Wanky hoped  justice be served soonest for the sake of the Barayuga family

And for Sarah Barayuga, she said: “If the PNP already possesses a strong case to hold the suspects accountable, I would be deeply grateful to see justice served for my husband.” – Rappler.com