Go denies he knew motive behind slay of PCSO exec

Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go on Tuesday distanced himself from the allegation that he was aware of the motive behind the 2020 assassination of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga.

“Please get your facts straight. Let’s stick to the truth and what is right,” Go said in a statement.

“I also want to clarify that I don’t know anything about the motive behind [Barayuga’s] killing or any information that former PCSO Chair Anselmo Simeon Pinili may have about the incident,” he said.

The senator issued the statement after Pinili disclosed during the Sept. 27 hearing of the special House quad committee that he had informed Go and then Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Jesus Melchor Quitain of the possible reason why Barayuga was killed.

Close ties

Testifying before the House special panel, Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza of the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group owned up to his participation in the killing and named former National Police Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo and former PCSO General Manager Royina Garma as the brains behind Barayuga’s murder.

In denying Pinili’s claim, Go pointed out that he was already a senator when Barayuga, a retired police general, was shot dead by a lone gunman in Mandaluyong City while the PCSO official was on his way home on July 30, 2020.

It was widely known, however, that Go still had the ear of then President Rodrigo Duterte after he won a Senate seat during the 2019 midterm elections.

“Truth be told, I cannot interfere in the processes of the police regarding the incident,” the senator said.

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“That is why I take exception to the media reports that I knew the motive behind [Barayuga’s] killing but did nothing about it,” he stressed.

Go, Duterte’s longtime aide, also welcomed the decision of the Philippine National Police to reopen its investigation of the incident, saying those responsible for Barayuga’s killing should be held liable.

“His family deserves justice. That should have actually been done a long time ago,” he said.

Following Mendoza’s testimony, the PNP said that it would reexamine the case of Barayuga’s killing. Mendoza, who was a surprise witness in the House inquiry, said the hit job was ordered by Garma and relayed to him by Leonardo. INQ