Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said on Tuesday that he welcomes the reopening of the murder case of former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office official Wesley Barayuga.
In a statement, Go, who served as the special adviser to former president Rodrigo Duterte before becoming a senator, said Barayuga’s family deserves justice, something that they should have already achieved.
“Dapat lamang na mabigyan ng hustisya ang kanyang pamilya. Dapat nga noon pa ay nabigyan na ng hustisya iyan. Gayunpaman, mabuti na rin na maimbestigahan ‘yang muli ngayon para mapanagot ang dapat managot,” he said.
He also clarified he does not know anything about Barayuga’s death, since he was already a senator when the incident happened.
“Senador na ako noong panahon na iyon at nakatutok tayo sa pandemya bilang Chair ng Senate Committee on Health. Tumutulong ako sa Duterte administration noon sa pagtugon sa mga suliranin ng bansa, ngunit kapag may inilalapit sa akin na mga isyu o report, palagi kong inire-refer ang mga iyon sa kaukulang opisina, ahensya o opisyal. Lalo na kung hindi ko naman trabahong aksyunan ang mga iyon dahil Senador ako na may sariling mandato,” Go explained.
“Sa totoo lang po, hindi ko rin naman pwedeng pakialaman ang proseso ng ating kapulisan tungkol sa insidente. That is why I take exception sa mga ibinabalita sa media na may alam ako sa motibo ng pagkamatay ng isang tao at wala raw akong ginawa. Please get your facts straight. Doon lang sana tayo sa totoo at tama,” he added.
Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Rommel Francisco earlier ordered the reinvestigation of Barayuga’s case, following new information revealed during the House of Representatives Quad Committee hearing last September 27.
Police Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza bared during a House Quad Committee hearing on September 27 that he had been instructed by National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo and former PCSO General Manager Royina Garma orchestrated the murder.
Mendoza claimed that he was instructed to carry out the “operation” against Barayuga.
The Barayuga murder has remained unsolved since 2019.
