THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Wednesday said two of the five accused in the killing of Philippine Charity Sweeptakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga in 2020 have already surrendered following the issuance of an arrest warrant against them by a local court.
The accused were identified as former police officers Santie Mendoza, and Nelson Mariano.
NBI Director Jaime Santiago said the two expressed their intention to surrender upon learning that an arrest warrant has been issued against them by the Branch 279 of the Regional Trial Court in Mandaluyong on Monday.
On September 29, 2025, Mariano voluntarily surrendered to the NBI-Organized and Transnational Crime Division (NBI-OTCD) while Mendoza voluntarily surrendered on September 30 to NBI agents who flew to Bacolod City to implement the arrest warrant.
It can be recalled that Mendoza and Mariano confessed their involvement in the Baruyaga murder case during the House Quad Committee hearing conducted on September 27, 2024.
They implicated former PCSO general manager Royina Garma, former National Police Commission (Napolcom) Chairman Edilberto Leonardo and police officer Jeremy Causapin in the crime.
This led to the filing of murder and frustrated murder charges against them.
Barayuga, a retired police officer who was then PCSO Board Secretary, and his driver were shot by motorcycle-riding gunmen while traversing the intersection of Calbayog and Malinaw Streets in Mandaluyong City on July 30, 2020.
Barayuga died at the scene, while his driver sustained gunshot injuries.
Earlier, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the Department of Justice (DOJ) will seek the cancellation of Garma’s passport.
Remulla added that he would ask Santiago to check on the possibility of requesting a red notice from the Interpol to hasten Garma’s return to the country.
He said Garma and her co-accused will be considered as fugitives if they will not surrender to authorities despite the issuance of the arrest warrant against them.
It can be recalled that Garma was allowed to leave for Malaysia a day after returning to the country from Los Angeles, California, last September 6 following the denial of her application for political asylum.
Garma left as a tourist for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, according to the Bureau of Immigration, on September 7.
Garma was allowed to leave the country after the BI was able to verify that there was no hold departure order (HDO) or warrant of arrest issued against her.
Remulla later on disclosed that Garma has agreed to testify for the prosecution in connection with the crimes against humanity filed in the International Criminal Court against former President Rodrigo Duterte for his bloody anti-illegal drug war.
He said Garma left for Malaysia to meet with ICC representatives in preparation for her testimony.