PCSO board secretary shot dead

MANILA, Philippines — An official of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office was gunned down by a motorcycle-riding assailant shortly after leaving the PCSO central office in Mandaluyong City yesterday afternoon.

PCSO board secretary Wesley Barayuga, 62, was on his way home when he was ambushed, according to an initial police report.

City police chief Col. Hector Grijaldo said their investigation showed that Barayuga was in a pick-up truck with his driver when they were fired upon by the suspect at the corner of Calbayog and Malinao streets in Barangay Highway Hills before 5 p.m.

“Barayuga suffered two gunshots to the head. He was also shot in the body,” Grijaldo said in an interview on dzBB. “He might have been followed by the suspect from the PCSO office.”

Probers said Barayuga’s driver sustained injuries and was taken to the VRP Medical Center.

According to witnesses, the gunman sped off toward EDSA after the attack.

Police said they recovered four empty .45-caliber bullets at the crime scene.

Grijaldo said investigators are still establishing whether the motive for the killing was related to Barayuga’s work at the PCSO.

Barayuga is said to be a former police officer. There were reports that he was allegedly involved in illegal drugs, but police said they were still verifying the information.

Barayuga was the second government official slain this week.

On Tuesday, National Center for Mental Health chief Roland Cortez and his driver were killed in Quezon City.