xplosive testimony during a congressional inquiry has uncovered a plot to murder retired Philippine Military Academy (PMA) general and PCSO Corporate Secretary Atty. Wesley Barayuga, allegedly ordered by top law enforcement officials linked to the Duterte administration.
The assassination, carried out on July 30, 2020, was reportedly intended to silence Barayuga and prevent him from exposing deep-seated corruption in the Philippine
E
Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), particularly in the Small Town Lottery (STL) operations.
During the hearing, Rep. Johnny Pimentel
led the questioning of Lt. Col. Santi Mendoza, a former officer in the NCRPO's Regional Drug Enforcement Unit, whose testimony implicated Col. Edilberto Leonardo and PCSO General Manager Royina Garma in the murder.
Mendoza testified that Leonardo had approached him in October 2019 with a
request to help "liquidate" a high-value target—Atty. Barayuga. The reason? Barayuga had been investigating and was on the verge of exposing a corruption scheme involving millions of pesos in PCSO funds.
“This was not just a random act of violence. This was a calculated murder
ordered at the highest levels to protect individuals engaged in corrupt practices at the PCSO. It is clear that the murder of General Barayuga was intended to stop him from testifying against the corruption plaguing the agency,” said Pimentel during the inquiry.
China’s ambassador to the Philippines has urged for a renewal of commitment to the two nations' diplomatic ties, calling on the country to work with China in advancing cooperation and promoting regional peace and stability.
Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian said China-Philippines relations "have maintained a general trend of forward-moving, despite some ups and downs."
"History has also shown that as long as our differences are properly managed, the road of China-Philippines cooperation will be even broader,” Huang said at a reception celebrating the 75th founding anniversary of the People’s Republic of China in Taguig City on Thursday night.
“Let us renew the original commitment to our diplomatic ties, keep in mind the well-being of the two peoples, always remember the fundamental interests of our two countries, and work together to steer clear of disruptions."
Huang, in a separate interview, said Manila and Beijing should keep their eye on “bringing benefits” and serving the interests of the Filipino and Chinese people.
The statement comes after months of simmering tensions between the two
states over a series of dangerous incidents in the West Philippine Sea, the most recent of which was the ramming of a Philippine Coast Guard vessel stationed in the Escoda (Sabina) Shoal.
Last August, the Chinese Foreign Ministry accused the United States and the Philippines of inciting “geopolitical confrontation” following the US deployment of Typhon, a mid-range capability missile system, in the country.
At that time, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Manila should “avoid acting as the cat’s paw for the US at the expense of its own security interest” as he pushed for the immediate pullout of the missile launcher.
In a pre-recorded speech, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Maria Theresa Lazaro said the Philippines will work with China in enhancing diplomatic, economic, and people-to-people relations, especially as
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday recognized the role of South Korea in the development of the Philippines, as evidenced by the increasing number of its funded projects in the country.
“To that end, I want to acknowledge our partners in the Korean government and the Korean EXIM Bank. Thank you very much. Your unwavering support has been instrumental in turning this dream into a reality,” President Marcos said during the inauguration of the PhP8.03 billion Panguil Bay Bridge Project.
“And before lest anyone think that this project between the Republic of Korea, the Economic Development Cooperation Fund and through Eximbank of Korea is an isolated project, I would just like to show everyone how many EDCF [of Korea] projects are ongoing in the Philippines,” he said.
According to the President, there are 21 ongoing South Korea-backed projects in the country with two more in the pipeline. He said some of them are the biggest projects in the Philippines as he stressed the depth of Korea’s involvement in the country.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. declared on Friday Misamis Occidental as an “Insurgency-Free Province”.
According to the President, a strong political will and close collaboration of law enforcement agencies have led to the end of the communist rebellion and terrorist activities in the province.
In his speech at the Tangub City Global College (TCGC) in Tangub City, President Marcos emphasized that 60 barangays once affected by the Communist Terrorist
Groups’ (CTGs) in Misamis Occidental are now free from their influence.
“We are gathered here today to celebrate a historic occasion, one that also took time in the making, the declaration of Misamis Occidental as an Insurgency-Free Province,” he told residents of Barangay Maloro, Tangub City.
“After years of consistent and resolute security, peace, and community-building-
House Quad Committee co-chairmen on Friday stressed the panel’s decision ordering the transfer of Philippine offshore and gaming operator (POGO) person-of-interest Cassandra Li Ong to the Correctional Institute for Women (CIW), saying that the move was in accordance with the law.
In a statement, Surigao del Norte Rep. Ace Barbers, Manila Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr., Abang Lingkod Rep. Joseph Stephen “Caraps” Paduano, Sta. Rosa Rep. Dan Fernandez, and Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop all emphasized that Ong’s transfer was carried out strictly with due process and established legal procedures.
"We want to make it clear: Ms. Ong's transfer to the Correctional Institute for Women is legal. The QuadCom has followed all necessary protocols, and the decision is rooted in the rule of law,” they said in a joint statement.
“Walang nilabag na batas ang Quad Comm sa pag-utos na ilipat si Ms. Ong sa correctional. Lahat ng aksyon ng committee ay naaayon sa aming Rules of Procedure at sa batas,” according to them.
“Her lawyers were the ones who said that
Cassy Ong would prefer to be detained in a prison cell rather than in Congress. Cassy should blame her lawyers for putting her in this uncomfortable position,” they added.
Addressing allegations that lawmakers applied pressure on the decision to transfer Ong, the lawmakers said the allegation is "speculative" and “lacking in substantiated evidence.”
They pointed out that "walang basehan ang mga paratang na ito. Our legislative inquiries are designed to seek the truth and uphold justice, not to manipulate the outcome of these proceedings."
As for concerns that Ong’s transfer may violate international human rights conventions, lawmakers said "We are carefully looking into all concerns regarding international conventions. We assure the public that we remain
committed to respecting the rights of individuals, and ensuring that all actions taken are in compliance with both domestic and international laws."
They also urged the public and other concerned parties to let the legal processes involving the ongoing hearings proceed.
"It's important that we let the system work. Casting baseless accusations does nothing but create confusion and divert attention from the real issues at hand," they stressed.
The lawmakers reiterated that all necessary health and safety measures were being taken to ensure Ong's welfare, contrary to the fears expressed by her legal counsel.
"Ms. Ong’s well-being is a priority. The authorities have ensured that her transfer was conducted safely and with respect for her rights," they stated.
THE House of Representatives four-committee panel looking into extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration, among other issues, on Friday cited a commissioner of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) in contempt and ordered his detention at the House premises in Quezon City.
Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, lead chairman of the panel known as Quad Comm, announced the approval of the motion of Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Stephen Joseph Paduano to cite National Police Commission (Napolcom) Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo in contempt for “evading and lying to the joint committee.”
After Paduano’s motion was approved, Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop moved to have Leonardo detained at the House premises “until the joint committee would finish its report.”
Leonardo is a former police colonel assigned in Davao City.
Paduano asked the former police colonel about a meeting in Davao City Leonardo supposedly attended a few days before two inmates murdered three Chinese drug lords inside the Davao Penal Farm and
Prison in August 2016, just two weeks after former President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office.
The drug lords were killed allegedly upon Duterte’s orders.
Former police Major Jimmy Fortaleza, retired police Col. Royina Garma and former Davao prison warden Supt. Gerado Padilla have testified that the meeting took place during which instructions and arrangements for the killing of the three Chinese nationals were allegedly discussed.
Paduano asked Fortaleza, Garma and Padilla to confirm their testimonies, who asserted that there was such a meeting.
Garma and Leonardo supposedly told Padilla, as prison warden, to no longer intervene (wag ka nang makialam), as arrangements had already been made for
the three drug lords.
However, when Paduano confronted Leonardo about the meeting, Leonardo denied it took place.
The lawmaker repeatedly asked his question but the former police colonel insisted there was no such meeting.
It was at this point that the Abang Lingkod representative accused Leonardo of lying and moved to have him cited in contempt.
Leonardo is a Napolcom appointee of former President Duterte.
Paduano and Acop later questioned Garma, Leonardo, Col. Lito Patay, Col. Hector Grijaldo Jr. about a meeting in June 2016, before Duterte assumed office, in which they supposedly discussed a “Davao template,” apparently for extrajudicial killings (EJK).
Garma and Leonardo confirmed the meeting at the second floor of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) building in Davao City.
The department renewed its call on the occasion of the 2024 World Maritime Day as it recognized the contribution of Filipino seafarers to “global peace and prosperity”.
“We take this opportunity to again echo the call of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the United Nations Security Council, among others, for respect for the exercise of navigational rights and freedoms, and for the immediate release of the Galaxy Leader and its crew,” it said.
The Houthis hijacked the cargo vessel while it was sailing in the Red Sea near Hodeidah last November and held hostage its 25 crew members, including 17 Filipinos.
The Red Sea had been under assault since the Israel-Hamas war broke out in October 2023, with Yemen’s Houthi rebels relentlessly targeting Israel-linked commercial vessels.
Meanwhile, the DFA thanked the global maritime sector for acknowledging the rights of seafarers to refuse to sail in designated high-risk areas.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday night called for the immediate release of the crew of MV Galaxy Leader held captive by the Houthi group since November 2023.
“As we celebrate World Maritime Day, the Philippines calls on all States and stakeholders to reaffirm and mobilize action on their commitments towards promoting a safe, secure and sustainable maritime sector,” it said.
“And let us all continue to advocate for the rights and welfare of our seafarers, ensuring that they are treated fairly, with dignity, and with respect,” it added.
On top of mariners’ rights, the DFA also affirmed its commitment to the preservation of the marine environment through the continuous promotion of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea “as the constitution of the ocean”.
DMW joins release appeal
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has joined calls for the release of Filipino crew members of MV Galaxy Leader, held in captivity by Houthi rebels since November 2023.
In an interview during the “Alay sa Marinong Pilipino” event on Friday at the-