Another witness apologizes to GMA, says he was misled

Another witness in the Senate jueteng investigation apologized to President Arroyo yesterday after saying he was "misled" by opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson.

Demosthenes Abraham Riva, who earlier said he collected jueteng payoffs for then presidential adviser on Bicol affairs Mario Espinosa, did not recant his testimony but said Lacson dictated what he was to say during the hearing.

"I am sorry, Madame President. I did not expect our testimonies would cause our country this… I was misled and feel so used. My only crusade was to stop jueteng," Riva said in a news conference in Pasay City.

He admitted that he did not have personal knowledge of the alleged involvement of any of Mrs. Arroyo’s relatives in jueteng operations. In his testimony in the Senate hearing, he said he delivered jueteng payola, which amounted to about P140,000 monthly, to Espinosa from February to May last year.

The opposition had presented him as a witness who could link First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo to the illegal numbers game when he claimed that Espinosa mentioned the name of Mr. Arroyo during one of their meetings.

"He (Espinosa) told me he has the blessing of the First Gentleman. I was aware that it was just mere name-dropping but Sen. Lacson wanted me to emphasize this issue during the inquiry," Riva said.

He decided to come forward and reveal what he knew about jueteng operations after he was convinced to do so by Ben Aguilar, Lacson’s campaign manager for the Bicol region during last year’s presidential race.

Riva said Lacson met with him and two other jueteng witnesses — Richard Garcia and Wilfredo Mayor — in a Pasay hotel to discuss their testimonies.

Then they proceeded to Copacabana restaurant before going to the house of Bishop Antonio Tobias at East Fairview, Quezon City, where he eventually stayed.

"I told them what I knew. Pero pagkatapos nila akong pakinabangan, tinapon lang nila ako (They threw me away after they got what they wanted from me)," Riva said. "Pare-parehas lang kaming nagamit, ako para tumestigo laban kay First Gentleman (We were all used, me to testify against the First Gentleman)."

However, he stressed he would not withdraw his previous testimony to the Senate, but would no longer allow himself to be used by any political or religious group to oust the President.

"I was first to leave the group because I did not want to be identified with any politics and church," Riva said. He said they left him in Payatas, Quezon City for four days, after which he stayed with some friends.

Riva also revealed that while the opposition never promised him anything in exchange for his testimony, he received early last month a direct offer from Ric Dandan, reportedly Lacson’s chief of staff.

"He told me that eventually, the opposition will be in power so... I should (let) them (know) what I want. He also told me not to be plastic," he said.

But Riva said he did not discuss any deals with the opposition camp since "it was really my personal crusade against jueteng that I am up for."

He said he still fears for his life, especially now that he does not know whom he is up against. "I no longer have peace of mind. But when I saw Garcia on TV, lumakas ang loob ko," he said.

Last Thursday, Garcia broke down and apologized to the President, saying he was pressured by opposition leaders into linking her relatives to jueteng operations.

Riva has been receiving death threats through text messages from unknown sources. But there were also those who have expressed support for him.

‘Worse than turncoatism’

Espinosa said in a statement that Riva’s decision to quit as a jueteng witness shows his lack of credibility and sense of dignity.

"What Riva did is worse than turncoatism. He is like a butterfly that would settle on wherever is convenient to him. With nobody believing him, he was able to hog the limelight again by confirming that the First Gentleman has nothing to do with the alleged jueteng payoffs," he said.

Espinosa speculated that Riva may be "thinking that he would be able to ingratiate himself to the First Gentleman. But then, Riva has nothing to offer since he has long been discredited."

Espinosa said he has already directed his lawyer, Rodel Batocabe, to file perjury and libel cases against Riva. The businessman said he is compelled to file perjury charges against Riva because the latter claimed his group, or that of Lacson, is now after him.

"I would have considered him a non-entity, but I want to expose Riva once and for all — that he is a liar and a paid hack," Espinosa said.

Meanwhile, Senate committee on public order and illegal drugs chairman Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. said his committee will stand by Garcia’s earlier statement that Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo is allegedly known as the "Lion King" for getting a lion’s share of jueteng proceeds in a number of provinces.

"Garcia said everything he said was true and he would not change it. We will go by what he said during the committee hearing," Villar said.

He said former Isabela governor Faustino Dy has not confirmed whether he would attend tomorrow’s Senate hearing, although an invitation was sent to him as early as Wednesday last week.

Villar said if Dy does not appear at the hearing, his committee may wrap up its investigation and start discussing with the Senate committee on games and amusement, headed by Sen. Lito Lapid, how to implement the two panels’ final recommendations on the jueteng issue.

"We reserve the option to continue, but right now, this (inquiry) seems to be nearing the end," Villar said.

On the other hand, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz said Riva’s decision does not weaken the resolve of the Krusadang Bayan Laban sa Jueteng to continue to fight the operators of the illegal numbers game.

"I still appreciate Riva for having maintained the truth of his testimony before the Senate and consequently, I bear no ill will against him. I thank him for exposing the evil of jueteng in the country," he said. — With Christina Mendez, Mike Frialde