Retired police colonel Edilberto Leonardo has submitted a resignation as commissioner of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) following the controversy that linked him to the killing of retired police general and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga.
Leonardo submitted his resignation to the Office of the President after the expose of Police Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza that he and former PCSO chairperson Royina Garma ordered a hit on Barayuga for his alleged involvement in illegal drugs operations.
National police chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil earlier ordered a reinvestigation of the killing of Barayuga and a review on the policy of including a person in drug watch list as the latter was not included in the drug watchlist prior to his killing.
Napolcom vice chairman and executive officer Alberto Bernardo confirmed the resignation of Leonardo.
Sources said the resignation of Leonardo was already accepted by President Marcos through a letter signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, a copy of it was forwarded to the office of Bernardo.
Aside from the killing of Barayuga, Leonardo’s name was also mentioned by Garma in her explosive revelation on Friday, Oct. 11, during a hearing of the House of Representatives Quad-Committee that looks into drug war and operation of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
In the hearing, an emotional Garma disclosed that former president Rodrigo Duterte rewarded policemen for every death of drug suspects.
Garma also revealed that Leonardo, her upperclassman at the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA), was tapped to head the cash reward-driven operations against illegal drugs personalities.