Javier slay accused threatens witness

SAN JOSE, Antique - A state witness in the 1986 assassination of former Antique governor Evelio Javier said one of the accused threatened him during a recess in last Monday's resumption of the hearings here.

Witness Jose Delumen said accused Henry Salaber approached him on the witness stand and told him: "Hindi ka ba natatakot sa mga sinasabi mo? Malalaking tao ang mga iyan. Ipapapatay ka niyan (Are you not afraid of what you are talking about? These are influential people. They can have you killed)."

As he said these words, Salaber, according to Delumen, motioned his head and fingers towards the direction of the defense panel's table where Arturo Pacificador, Avelino Javellana, Ramon Salvani and Joselito Barrera were conversing.

Delumen has tagged Paci-ficador as the mastermind of Javier's killing, and Javellana and accused Jimmy Punzalan as the supplier of high-powered firearms used in the slay.

Delumen told his lawyers about the incident, prompting state prosecutor Leo Dacera III to file a resolution.

"I was shocked after that incident and I don't know what to do," Delumen said.

Dacera said the threat is intended to "obstruct, impede, pervert, degrade and embarrass the administration of justice."

Defense lawyers denied the incident, claiming that Delu-men's story "is of doubtful veracity."

Dacera said this was not the first time that witnesses were threatened in court. He recounted that armed men approached witness Arlene Limoso inside the court during a hearing last November.