MANILA, Philippines (Updated 4L31 p.m.) — Three more suspects in the brazen assassination of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo have recanted previous testimonies on their involvement in the case, their lawyer said Tuesday.
In an interview with ANC’s “Rundown,” lawyer Danny Villanueva said all his four clients “already executed an affidavit of recantation.”
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Villanueva represents Jhudiel Rivero, who was reported on Monday to have recanted his testimony on his alleged participation in the crime. Rivero also claimed he was tortured and was threatened to point to suspended Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. (Negros Oriental) as the mastermind in the killing.
Villanueva said he is also representing suspects Dahniel Lora, Romel Pattaguan and Rogelio Antipolo Jr.
“We have submitted already, not only the affidavit of recantation of Mr. Rivero, but as well as those our three other clients,” he said.
Antipolo retracts
Antipolo, the lawyer said, had also alleged threats to himself and his family.
He added that Antipolo had only signed affidavits that his client surmised “comes from the police officers of Negros Oriental” out of fear of torture and for his family's safety.
Antipolo has also denied having any knowledge on the alleged recruitment of participants in the assassination.
Referring to his client, Villanueva continued: “He cooperated by affixing his, reluctantly not voluntarily, he affixed his signature on those affidavits allegedly confessing to his involvement not only in the planning an exaction as well as to the recruitment of the members of the assault team.”
A GMA News Online report said Antipolo’s prior affidavit was cited in indicting Marvin Miranda, who was identified by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla as one of the alleged masterminds in the Degamo killing.
Miranda supposedly recruited assailants and gathered firearms in the daylight shooting of the provincial governor.
'Credibility affected'
Remulla had already anticipated recantations as he explained last week that suspect-witnesses suddenly refused to cooperate with authorities when they were given new lawyers paid for by someone else.
This caused a delay in the filing of criminal raps against Teves, the other mastermind in the case.
Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Richard Fadullon told reporters that they had also expected recantations, and added that this is their right—although the department has yet to officially receive them.
But he stressed: “To say that they recanted, assuming that we received the copies already, doesn’t mean that the recantations will prove that the earlier statements they gave are actually untrue.”
Fadullon remains confident that the cases will not be affected.
Charges have already been filed against suspects in the killing, although the criminal raps against Teves will still undergo preliminary investigation.
Fadullon said it will be up to panel of prosecutors to weigh the recantations, but he stressed that this move also affects the credibility of the witnesses.
“Just because it is the latest statement, that is the truth? That’s not always the case. We will also look into the motives in these testimonies, and circumstances. Why only now, and why suddenly?” he continued in Filipino.
Teves continues to refuse to come home, citing fears for his safety. His 60-day suspension from the House of Representatives ends on Tuesday, and he may face further sanctions due to his continued absence.