Defense witnesses' testimonies clash

The defense in the Allan Dizon murder case presented another witness to prove that two prosecution witnesses were not at the crime scene after the murder, but the testimony of their latest witness contradicted that of their last.

Yesterday, the defense presented its fifth witness Alan Igot who testified that at past 6 p.m. last November 27 he, Junnie Flores, Faustiniano "Tingaw" Doller and Epifanio "Taning" Barcuma were drinking "several meters" away from the cellshop in North Reclamation Area where Dizon was shot. Igot said when he heard the three gunshots he did not immediately go to verify but waited for a minute or two as Flores finished singing his song on a videoke machine.

He said he then went the 10-minute walk to the shop leaving Flores, Doller and Barcuma behind.

At the crime scene, he said he saw many people but not Doller or Barcuma, who both said Edgar Belandres shot The FREEMAN photojournalist Dizon.

But prosecution lawyer Dante Ramos told Igot that he could not see Doller and Barcuma as he said there were many people milling about the scene. Igot answered that he was not looking for Doller and Barcuma as he knew the two were still where he left them. Igot added that there were about 20-30 people in the area of whom he could no longer identify.

Also, Igot said he was not able to see Alma Doller in the area. But Ramos said Igot arrived, based on his own testimony, at the area 12 minutes after the shot, whereas Alma claimed she was in the area selling cigarette when Dizon was shot.

Igot further said because the shop and carwash were not well-lit it was impossible to see anyone standing there clearly thus making someone impossible to identify the assailant. When he returned to the store Flores was still there but Barcuma and Doller were no longer around.

This testimony contradicted that of his nephew Ryan Igot who testified last week that he was near the shop to buy bread when Dizon was shot. Ryan said that when he returned to their compound he saw his uncle Alan, Flores, Barcuma and Doller drinking.

Regional Trial Court Branch 5 judge Ireneo Gako Jr. asked Igot if he knew why Doller was nicknamed "Tingaw" and Epifanio "Taning" and Igot said he did not as he was not close to them. Gako asked why he did not when he earlier told the court he had known the two for more than 20 years.