As boy tags primary suspect: Another cop in Jojo slay?

There is allegedly another policeman involved in the killing of Bantay Dagat project director Elpidio "Jojo" de la Victoria almost two months ago in Talisay City.

This information came out during yesterday's ocular inspection of the area where the crime took place on April 12.

Reportedly, another policeman was the back up of prime suspect SPO1 Marcial Ocampo, who is now on trial for allegedly shooting de la Victoria to death.

The second suspect is reportedly a member of the Regional Mobile Group. He allegedly served as driver of the supposed get away motorcycle. Residents in Ramona Village in barangay San Roque yesterday said that the back up stayed at the junction of the road leading to the village and Rabaya Street where he was said to have talked to de la Victoria's brother-in-law, William Gerali, several minutes before the shooting.

Another source, who requested anonymity, said that the second suspect has been AWOL a few months before the killing of de la Victoria.

Private prosecutor Fritz Quiñanola confirmed that another policeman backed up the gunman, but said he does not have the name of the suspect. Quiñanola said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group is already pursuing this angle.

Meanwhile, an eight-year-old boy pointed to Ocampo yesterday as the alleged gunman who shot de la Victoria on April 12 at past 3:00 o'clock in the afternoon. The boy, who reportedly always waits for de la Victoria to arrive because the latter would give him coins, pointed to Ocampo when he saw the latter during the ocular inspection conducted by the Regional Trial Court.

The boy even demonstrated the gunman's position when he shot de la Victoria. The boy's narration jived with that of the testimony of the prosecution's second witness, Joselito Gerali.

Gerali's testimony prompted judge Ireneo Lee Gako, Jr. to do an ocular inspection to see for himself the distance of the witness' store where he was standing when he saw the accused allegedly shoot de la Victoria.

Quiñanola said that the prosecution panel is happy about the result of the ocular inspection, because the judge was able to see for himself the distance from the store and the house of the victim. The defense earlier questioned Gerali's testimony saying it is allegedly unlikely for him to see the incident because his store is located far from the victim's house.

Quiñanola said, the prosecution does not intend to present so many witnesses anymore to abbreviate the proceedings. He said the testimony of the other witnesses is merely corroborative. In fact, Quiñanola said Gerali's testimony is already enough to secure a conviction.