Court orders passports of Garma, Leonardo cancelled amid Barayuga slay case

The Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court (RTC) ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs to cancel the passports of retired police colonel Royina Garma and former National Police Commission commissioner Edilberto Leonardo in relation to the murder case of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Board Secretary Wesley Barayuga.

This developed as Mandaluyong RTC Branch 279 also issued a hold departure order against Garma, Leonardo and their co-accused, Police Lieutenant Colonel Santie Mendoza, ex-police officer Nelson Mariano, and Jeremy Causapin, according to John Consulta of GMA Integrated News on Wednesday. 

BASAHIN: Pasaporte ni dating PCSO GM Royina Garma, dating Napolcom Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo at tatlong iba pa kaugnay sa pagpatay kay dating PCSO Board Secretary Wesley Barayuga, pinapakansela ng Branch 279 ng Mandaluyong RTC. | via John Consulta/GMA Integrated News pic.twitter.com/BujgPFsmab

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Aside from Garma and Leonardo, the court also ordered the cancellation of the passports of Mendoza, Mariano, and Causapin.

“As holders of valid Philippine Passports, there exists serious risk that they will flee from the jurisdiction of the court to evade trial and punishment,” the court said.

In its four-page order, the court also junked the motion to suspend proceedings by Garma and Leonardo. 

The court also ordered that Mendoza and Mariano remain in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation. 

Both Mendoza and Mariano were arrested in connection with Barayuga's death. Their lawyer, Atty. Raymund Palad, entered a not guilty plea into the official record.

The pre-trial conference will be tentatively held on November 12.

Garma is facing a complaint for murder and frustrated murder for allegedly ordering Barayuga’s killing in 2020.

She was deported from the United States last September after her asylum application was rejected by US authorities, according to government sources. 

Garma and Leonardo were tagged as masterminds in Barayuga’s assassination during the hearings of the House Quad Committee. They have denied the allegations against them. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF/VBL, GMA Integrated News