Witness: I was paid to tell a lie

CEBU, Philippines - A man, who was presented as witness to a murder case recanted his statement and alleged that a politician was behind the move to accuse the husband of San Fernando Mayor Lakambini Reluya.

Rolando Bajao went to the City Prosecutor’s Office yesterday to officially recant his statement.

He earlier tagged Ricardo Reluya, Jr. as the alleged mastermind in the killing of businesswoman Lalaine Jore in Gorordo Ave. back in February 17, 2009.

The mayor’s husband said that he is relieved that he has been cleared as the accusation had caused him sleepless nights even if he knows that his conscience is clear.

Bajao alleged that San Fernando Vice Mayor Antonio Canoy, who is seeking the mayoralty next month against Mayor Reluya, was the one who offered him money to tag the mayor’s husband.

Canoy’s son Mikko denied the allegations and said that he does not personally know Bajao and has never met him.

Mikko told The FREEMAN that his family has nothing to do with the case.

“Wala mi makaila niya,” Mikko said referring to Bajao.

The so-called witness said that he met the vice mayor at a mall in Makati City last March 2 where he was allegedly told by Canoy to tag the mayor’s husband as behind the killing of Jore and gave him P15,000 as initial payment and a roundtrip plane ticket to Cebu.

Bajao claimed that he was promised P30,000 to tag Reluya.

Ricardo also went to the prosecutor’s office yesterday to file a counter-affidavit.

He said that the accusations came as a shock.

Bajao said in his affidavit that Canoy told him that a certain Filomeno Amistad, who allegedly is a close aide of Reluya, was the suspect in the killing.

He added that Canoy instructed him to point to Reluya as the mastermind and alleged that the mayor’s husband had an intimate relationship with the businesswoman for several years.

Bajao added that when he arrived in Cebu, he met Mikko Canoy, son of the vice mayor, who brought him to the Guadalupe Police Station to execute an affidavit.

 But Bajao said that he filed a recantation in order “to tell the truth because my conscience is bothered.”

“I suffered sleepless nights for telling lies in my previous affidavit and that I was able to sign the same under duress and for monetary consideration.

Counter-Affidavit

In his three-page counter affidavit, Reluya said that the allegations hurled against him are “pure and simple fabricated case that is clearly politically motivated.”

“All the allegations of complicity are all mere suspicions and hearsay and even double hearsay that cannot stand the crucible of reason and admissibility,” the affidavit read.

Ricardo said that it came to him as a surprise that the complaint against him was only filed last March 8, which is already within the election period and more than a year since the commission of the crime.—/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)