The Mandaluyong City Regional Trial Court Branch 279 has issued arrest warrants for five current and former police officers, including high-profile figures Royina Garma and Edilberto Leonardo, in connection with the 2020 murder of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga. The court order, signed on September 13, 2025, and confirmed publicly on September 29, marks a dramatic turn in a case that has entangled the country’s police establishment, the Duterte-era war on drugs, and ongoing international investigations into alleged crimes against humanity.
According to Manila Bulletin, the arrest warrants name Garma, a former PCSO general manager and police colonel; Leonardo, a retired police colonel and former National Police Commission commissioner; Police Lieutenant Colonel Santie Fuentes Mendoza; dismissed policeman Nelson Enriquez Mariano; and Jeremy Causapin, also known as "Toks." All five face charges of murder and frustrated murder—a legal term in the Philippines for attempted murder resulting in serious injury. The charges are non-bailable.
The killing at the center of the case occurred on July 30, 2020, when Barayuga was gunned down, leaving his driver wounded. Barayuga, who was then a member of the PCSO Board, had reportedly been preparing documents to expose alleged corruption within the organization, as revealed in a September 2024 House hearing. During this hearing, Mendoza testified that Garma and Leonardo ordered a hit on Barayuga, disguising the operation as part of anti-illegal drugs activities. Mendoza claimed he felt compelled to carry out the task, stating, “I had no option but to carry out the task as I feared for my life, especially that I was aware that both Garma, who is also a retired police official, and Leonardo were influential that time.” (Manila Bulletin)
Further details emerged during a congressional inquiry into former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs. According to SunStar Philippines, Mendoza explained that Leonardo contacted him about a "special project involving a high-value individual who is believed to be involved in illegal drugs" during the government’s narcotics crackdown. Garma, he said, provided intelligence for the operation, while Causapin and Mariano carried out the killing. These revelations cast a harsh light on the intersection of police operations and extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration.
The court’s action comes as Garma herself has stepped into the spotlight as a potential witness for the prosecution at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, where former President Duterte faces charges of crimes against humanity. According to Rappler, Garma flew to Malaysia in September 2025 to meet with ICC investigators after returning briefly to the Philippines following the rejection of her asylum application in the United States. She reportedly agreed to testify against Duterte, having previously revealed that his administration implemented a "Davao template" reward system for police officers tasked with killing individuals on the government’s drug list. Garma testified that Duterte asked her to design this reward system, with Leonardo serving as the head strategist—a role she said he was handpicked for, as "he fit the bill of what Duterte allegedly wanted: someone good with money." (Rappler) Leonardo, for his part, is listed by the ICC as a person "under suspicion."
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has moved to implement the court’s orders. In a press conference on September 29, Brigadier General Randulf Tuaño, chief of the PNP Public Information Office, confirmed receipt of the arrest warrants and said acting PNP chief Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez had instructed the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and all police units to carry out the arrests. “Ang marching orders ng ating chief PNP, ang sabi niya, justice for all. Meaning, ang kautusan niya po sa CIDG at sa lahat ng miyembro ng Philippine National Police: implement all warrants of arrest regardless of the case,” Tuaño stated, emphasizing the force’s commitment to impartial law enforcement. (SunStar Philippines)
Yet, as of the end of September, only Mendoza is confirmed to be in police custody. He is currently under the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management’s (DPRM) Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit (PHAU), reportedly in a "floating status." The whereabouts of Garma, Leonardo, Causapin, and Mariano remain unknown. Tuaño noted that authorities are still working to locate and apprehend the remaining suspects.
The developments have sent shockwaves through the Philippine law enforcement and political landscape, not least because of the high-profile nature of those involved and the broader implications for the Duterte-era drug war. Garma’s willingness to cooperate with the ICC and testify against Duterte signals a possible turning point in the international pursuit of accountability for alleged extrajudicial killings. Her testimony, if accepted, would provide rare insider detail on the workings of the so-called "Davao template"—a system that, according to Garma, incentivized police to target individuals on the drug list with financial rewards.
Barayuga’s murder, once attributed to anti-drug operations, is now viewed through a far more complex lens. The testimony of Mendoza, who has admitted to direct involvement but claims coercion by his superiors, adds a layer of moral and legal ambiguity. "Leonardo contacted me about a special project involving a high-value individual," Mendoza told lawmakers, suggesting the operation’s true motives may have been masked by the broader anti-narcotics campaign. According to Rappler, Mendoza’s confession preceded Garma’s own testimony about the reward system and her role in its design.
The case also highlights the difficulties faced by whistleblowers and accused individuals seeking protection or asylum abroad. Garma’s failed asylum bid in the United States and her subsequent flight to Malaysia underscore the risks and uncertainties faced by those who turn against powerful former allies. Meanwhile, the ICC’s ongoing investigation into Duterte’s conduct as president has placed the Philippines under international scrutiny, with human rights advocates watching closely for signs of genuine accountability.
For now, the fate of Garma, Leonardo, and their co-accused hangs in the balance. The PNP’s stated commitment to "justice for all" will be tested as authorities attempt to locate and arrest the remaining suspects. The case’s intersection with international law, Philippine politics, and the legacy of the Duterte drug war ensures it will remain in the public eye for months, if not years, to come.
In the end, the arrest warrants issued by the Mandaluyong court represent more than just a legal step—they are a signal that the unresolved questions of accountability, corruption, and justice in the Philippines are far from settled.
