Dominguez: No hand in killing

MANILA, Philippines - The principal suspect in the killing of used car dealer Venson Evangelista earlier this month has denied being the mastermind.

Raymond Dominguez, accompanied by lawyer Joey Cruz, went to the Quezon City Prosecutors’ Office yesterday to file his counter-affidavit and answer the charges filed against him.

In his counter-affidavit, Dominguez said he could not have given Alfred Mendiola, alias “Bading,” and Ferdinand Parulan, alias “Batibot,” instructions to kidnap Evangelista as he was at a court hearing in Bulacan at the time of the crime.

“We attached our evidence that on that day (Jan. 13), we were having a hearing at the Regional Trial Court Branch 19 in Malolos,” Cruz told reporters after the hearing before the fiscal yesterday afternoon.

“We were there until 12 noon,” Dominguez’s lawyer said, referring to another case that the suspect is facing in Bulacan.

Dominguez also stated in the counter-affidavit that he and his lawyer went to the counsel’s office to have lunch with his brother Roger and that they parted ways at around 4 p.m.

Dominguez’s counter-affidavit also questioned the credibility of Mendiola’s statements, saying the latter was not with Evangelista at the time of his death.

Dominguez’s camp also cited estafa cases against Mendiola pending before a court in Malolos.

Meanwhile, a woman judge will hear the car theft with homicide case against Mendiola and Parulan, suspects in the Evangelista murder who are now in police custody.

The charges against the two were raffled off Thursday afternoon to the sala of Judge Ma. Luisa Padilla of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 215.

No bail was recommended for Mendiola and Parulan in the Jan. 25 resolution approved by First Assistant City Prosecutor Meynardo Bautista Jr.

“The driver/occupant (Evangelista) of the carnapped motor vehicle was killed in the course of the commission of the carnapping or on the occasion thereof,” the resolution stated.

Because of this, the initial findings for the case of murder and carjacking were amended to car theft with homicide.

The Quezon City Prosecutors’ Office found probable cause to indict the two suspects, prompting the filing of charges before the court on Wednesday.

Mendiola and Parulan surrendered to the police last week and underwent inquest proceedings last weekend.

As to the other suspects still at large, the complaint against them was recommended for further investigation.

Pampanga officials, businessmen worried

The recent spate of carjackings has alarmed businessmen and government officials in Central Luzon.

Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda called an emergency meeting on Thursday and lambasted local police over the discovery of safehouses of criminal groups in her province.

The meeting was also attended by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, local mayors, police officials and officials of the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

Pineda said the criminals could not have taken foothold in Pampanga had the officials concerned performed their duties well.

“Pampanga now looks like a stronghold of carjackers. This is a big blow to the province,” she said, adding that barangay officials and LTO personnel should be investigated.

Arroyo said barangay officials must closely monitor what’s going on in their area of jurisdiction.

Arroyo also advised local executives to take extra precaution in giving business permits to dealers of used cars and other vehicles.

Retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, for his part, slammed Interior Undersecretary Rico Puno for “remaining calm and cool and to have said and done nothing at all.”

“It seems that to this writing, he has even not been seen at all, in any place and at any time,” Cruz said.

“Cars stolen and burned. Car traders mutilated and murdered. A bus blown up with passengers either killed or hurt. More than anything else, these are primarily PNP concerns and consequent responsibility,” Cruz said. - With Dino Balabo, Eva Visperas