Security of Jojo's kin, prosecutors raised over 'threats' on their lives

Security of the relatives of murdered Bantay Dagat official Elpidio "Jojo" Dela Victoria and the prosecution lawyers has been raised lately after some warnings from intelligence sources on impending threats to their lives.

Jojo's relatives said they were forced to hire policemen allegedly for protection from some people who might be angry at them for indicting policeman Marcial Ocampo as the alleged gunman.

Marife Dela Victoria-Rabaya, sister of Jojo, said that after the hearing of the murder case against Ocampo last Tuesday, a man in civilian attire and riding a Toyota Corola sedan (with plate number GHM-592) showed to her a handgun.

Earlier in that day's hearing, Rabaya said that one of Ocampo's supporters told Dela Victoria's relatives, "Makonsensya sab mo uy, inyong gikiha ang tawo nga walay sala."

After that Tuesday incident, Rabaya said she got two policemen to secure her and the family while they attend the succeeding trials every Tuesday and Friday afternoon.

Private prosecutor Rameses Villagonzalo, handling the murder case against Ocampo, said he and his staff are now on double alert after his friends from the intelligence group advised them to be watchful at all times. "Giingnan ko sa higala nako nga magbantay lang kanunay," he said.

Prosecution lawyer Fritz Quiñanola - a retired police general -meanwhile said he is always ready.

Ocampo, once a member of the Minglanilla Police, is currently detained at the Talisay City jail for allegedly killing Jojo near the latter's house at barangay San Roque in Talisay City last April 12.

In yesterday's hearing of the case, defense lawyer Hector Fernandez tried to destroy the credibility of Evan Echavez, the third prosecution witness, through a cross-examination that ran for almost two hours.

Echavez said that he saw a motorcycle-riding man, believed to be the gunman's companion, for about three to five minutes but saw the face and the figure of the gunman for only 30 seconds.

This prompted Fernandez to assail Echavez' failure to recall the exact description of the "gunman's companion," despite seeing him longer, but remembered all about the gunman's who was seen only briefly.

Echavez answered that the "gunman's companion" was at the place tarrying before the shooting so he just took the latter as just the usual man in the neighborhood.

On the other hand, the gunman approached him after the shooting, pointed the gun and threatened him not to say anything. Echavez said the encounter was brief but had more impact to make him remember that gunman.

Regional Trial Court judge Ireneo Lee Gako Jr., then advised Fernandez to direct his questions to his theory and avoid making irrelevant questions to the witness.

"Just stick to your theory, don't waste your time. You cannot twist the fact if the witness was really there at the crime scene. You just prove that the person he saw at the crime scene was not the accused. You are the one tiring yourself," Gako told Fernandez.

Fernandez accepted the reminder but asked the court to allow him to continue the cross-examination of Echavez on Tuesday." - Rene U. Borromeo