Alegre slay witnesses ‘uncooperative’ – NBI

CEBU, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation yesterday said there is a development in the case of slain lawyer Amelie Alegre, only that witnesses have declined to pinpoint who the suspects are for fear of retaliation, which in turn hinders the resolution of the case.

 “Merong development sana pero may konting problema. Yung possible witnesses do not cooperate kasi takot sila baka balikan sila,” said NBI-7 Assistant Director Augusto Eric Isidoro.

Alegre died on the spot while law firm partner Briccio Boholst and their staff Anthony Pino were injured after they were ambushed in Barangay Looc, Mandaue City last August 13.

The three came from a meeting and Alegre, who was apparently the target, was driving Boholst home to his residence in Looc when the attack took place.

Isidoro said some of the witnesses do not communicate with them anymore.

He said that they only need the witnesses to pinpoint the culprit from the photos of the possible suspects after they have already established circumstantial evidence and possible angles on the motive in the killing.

“Nandun sila sa area kaso walang nag-iidentify. Ayaw talaga,” Isidoro said.

Isidoro said they have already taken the images from the enhanced copies of closed circuit television camera footages from the office of the victim to the crime scene. Some of the photos, he said, are different from the cartographic sketches of the police.

Isidoro encouraged the community to support their efforts in solving the case, adding that crime prevention is everybody’s concern.

“Kahit anong sipag ng law enforcers or investigator kung ang community walang support, walang gustong tumestigo, paano maso-solve yan?” he said.

Isidoro surmised that while the government has a witness protection program, potential eyewitnesses may still have apprehensions, which was why they were discouraged from helping resolve criminal cases.

He revealed that like Alegre’s mother, who comes crying to their office each day requesting them to find her daughter’s killers, he, too, wants justice served in this case.

“Gusto ko rin ma-solve rin kaso wala talagang cooperation aside sa lack of manpower, lack of resources,” he said, adding that he also prays for the resolution of the case.

NBI-7 conducted a separate investigation into the case after Alegre’s cousin, retired Mandaue City Prosecutor Carmelita Terez, sought its assistance to trace the assailants and identify the mastermind. — Grace Melanie I. Lacamiento/RHM