Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), has ordered a comprehensive review of the internal mechanism for the inclusion of a person on a drug watch list and other crime-related lists.
Marbil issued the directive as he admitted that he was also surprised how retired police general and former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) board secretary Wesley Barayuga was included in the drug watch list in the past administration.
A police official earlier squealed that former PCSO general manager Rohina Garma and former police colonel and now National Police Commission (Napolcom) exec ordered him to liquidate Barayuga for his alleged involvement in illegal drugs operation.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Group (PDEA) earlier denied that Barayuga was on their list.
"We are committed to thoroughly investigating the brutal murder of General Barayuga, but equally important is the need to audit our internal mechanisms that may have contributed to this erroneous association," Marbil said.
Part of it, he said, is the inclusion of Barayuga in the drug watch list even after his death.
Barayuga was gunned down in Mandaluyong City after attending a PCSO meeting in 2020.
Following Barayuga's ambush, Marbil emphasized the urgency of reviewing and refining PNP’s procedures in identifying individuals for crime-related lists, extending beyond drug cases.
"We must dig deeper into why General Barayuga's name appeared on a drug list after his death. This highlights a critical need to scrutinize and overhaul our processes," Marbil said.
He stressed that the inclusion of individuals on any crime-related list should be based on solid evidence and undergo a stringent validation process.
Marbil emphasized that any flaws in these mechanisms could undermine not only the organization but also the public trust it seeks to uphold.
"Our internal systems must be airtight. We need to ensure that every name on a crime-related list is supported by credible intelligence and goes through a rigorous validation process,” said Marbil.
“This is essential for maintaining the integrity of the PNP and protecting the lives and reputations of those involved," he added.
Marbil also confirmed that the PNP has initiated a full review of its processes to prevent similar errors in the future, adding that transparency, accountability, and accuracy are non-negotiable in police operations.
"We are committed to upholding the highest standards of justice and fairness. General Barayuga’s case is a stark reminder of the importance of constantly refining our procedures," Marbil said.