Damalerio Case: Defense to present 1st witness July 20

The defense lawyers of ex-policeman Guillermo Wapille, suspected killer of Pagadian City journalist Edgar Damalerio, are expected to present their first witness on July 20.

Regional Trial Court judge Ramon Codilla has given them ten working days starting yesterday to submit before the court their comments on the evidence presented by the prosecution that were marked during the marathon trial.

Exactly 21 days after the RTC in Cebu City conducted a marathon trial of the murder case filed against the suspect, the state prosecutors decided to take a rest in presenting evidences against the suspect.

State prosecutors Dixon Fuentes and Fernando Gubalane said they had already presented before the court their best witnesses. These were Damalerio's wife and Edgar Ongue who testified he was with Edgar Damalerio on board the latter's vehicle when Wapille, on board a motorcycle, chased them and shot the victim on the evening of March 13, 2002.

But even when witnesses were considered to be best, the prosecution failed to establish the possible motive of Damalerio's killing.

Damalerio used to be the editor of the Zamboanga Scribe based in Pagadian City and a broadcaster of radio station dxKP.

To recall, the trial of the case was transferred to Cebu after the Supreme Court granted the request because the lives of the witnesses were reportedly threatened.

Assailants who are still unidentified also killed Edgar Amorro, who was with Damalerio when the latter was gunned down, after the incident. Ongue said Wapille's relatives offered him money in exchange for not testifying in court.