Ex-Napolcom official Leonardo still in PH, ready to face allegations —lawyer 

The camp of former National Police Commission (Napolcom) commissioner Edilberto Leonardo on Thursday said he is still in the Philippines and is not running from the allegations against him, including those before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“Nasa Pilipinas po si Colonel Leonardo at hindi po siya nagtatago [Colonel Leonardo is in the Philippines and he is not hiding],” his lawyer Andres Manuel said in an ambush interview at the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Leonardo, along with former PCSO general manager Royina Garma, is a respondent in the murder and frustrated murder complaints in the killing of former PCSO board secretary Wesley Barayuga.

He is also among the five individuals named as “possible suspects” in the ICC investigation into the Duterte administration's drug war.

Manuel said he and Leonardo have yet to talk about this matter. Should he be included in the case, the lawyer said Leonardo may face the charges.

“Kung saka-sakali naman po at meron na ganun, siguro ganun din po ang gagawin ni Colonel Leonardo na haharapin at sasagutin ‘yung ano mang kaso na ifa-file sa kanya sa ICC,” he said. 

(In case that there is really something like that, then Colonel Leonardo may also face and answer whatever case may be filed against him before the ICC.)

Manuel represented Leonardo for the first preliminary investigation on complaint before the DOJ. He said that if needed, Leonardo may personally file his counter-affidavit.

Abugado ni Dating PCSO GM Royina Garma, humarap sa Preliminary Investigation sa DOJ para sa pagpatay kay PCSO Board Secretary Wesley Barayuga.

Sa ngayon, hindi raw niya maisisiwalat kung nasaan si Garma. Hindi rin daw niya makukumpirma kung humiling ito ng asylum sa US @gmanews pic.twitter.com/hlJ09UQ7TF

— Saleema Refran (@saleema_refran) March 13, 2025

Meanwhile, Garma was represented by lawyer Emerito Quilang. 

Asked about Garma’s whereabouts, Quilang said he can’t divulge her location.

“I do not know if she is here in the Philippines or not. I do not know,” he said. 

He said their camp will also determine their timeline for the filing of the counter-affidavits once the witnesses for the complainant affirm their affidavit.     

“Even if she is not in the Philippines, there are procedures there na magagamit natin [that we can use]  to comply with the submission of the counter-affidavit,” he said.

He said he also does know know if Garma is seeking asylum in the United States.

Meanwhile, lawyer Raymund Palad, the legal counsel of complainants Police Lieutenant Colonel Santie Mendoza and police informant Nelson Mariano, said the case of Garma and Leonardo may be connected to former President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Kapag lumawak ‘yung investigation, pwedeng dumugtong kay Garma as the person contacted by Duterte to implement the tokhang nationwide. And baba ito kay Leonardo na sinasabing nag-implement naman ng tokhang sa buong Pilipinas,” he said.

(If the investigation expands, it could lead to Garma as the person contacted by Duterte to implement the tokhang nationwide. And this would go down to Leonardo, who is said to have implemented tokhang across the entire Philippines.)

“So magkakaduktong ‘yan si Leonardo, si Garma papunta kay Duterte ayon sa salaysay ni Colonel Santi Mendoza,” he added.

(So Leonardo and Garma are connected to Duterte, based on the affidavit of Colonel Santi Mendoza.) 

The next preliminary probe is on March 26, Wednesday. — BM, GMA Integrated News