‘Lustre now a witness’

He was first labeled a suspect. Now he is being turned into a witness.

Journalist turned public relations practitioner Philip Lustre Jr. will be used as a witness in last Saturday’s blaze which killed his girlfriend and five of his relatives in Quezon City.

Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Tor, chief of the Central Police District (CPD), told reporters yesterday that for lack of complainants, the police will have to make Lustre a witness in the case.

"Since no one has come forward to make a statement under oath, there is no case against him (Lustre)," Tor said in a press conference.

CPD deputy director Senior Superintendent Cesar Elenzano said: "Our operatives are now convincing residents in the area to come up and help us in the investigation. Unless a witness comes out, we cannot pin down Lustre in the incident."

Elenzano added circumstantial evidence must also be supported by testimonial evidence.

Lustre presented himself to Tor last Sunday, a day after his girlfriend Violeta Robles, cousin Veronica Roxas and the latter’s four children were killed in a fire that razed an apartment he was renting on No. 54-H Malakas st. in Barangay Pinyahan, Quezon City.

He was initially linked to the suspected arson after neighbors identified him as the last person seen leaving the apartment at 3 a.m. Saturday.

But he denied having intentionally set the place on fire, much more killing his own paramour and relatives.

"I have no knowledge how the fire started," he said in a formal statement.

Lustre pointed out that contrary to news reports, he did not have a heated argument with Robles, with whom he has a five-year-old daughter.

Lustre serves as public relations consultant for the Department of the Interior and Local Government. On Friday night, he met Roxas and her children in Intramuros, Manila and introduced them to DILG Secretary Joey Lina. He said he wanted to help Roxas who is being hunted by the police in Antipolo City for being an alleged accomplice in the killing of a Korean national.

"I did not commit any crime," he stressed. "I can never commit a crime to my blood relatives and to the mother of my child. I will never do it to any person."