Witness protection for bombing suspect

The Department of Justice (DOJ) placed yesterday the self-confessed supplier and keeper of the bomb used in the Valentine’s Day bombing in Makati City under a 90-day provisional witness protection program of the government.

In a one page letter to alleged Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) member Gappal Bannah, alias Boy Negro, Senior State Prosecutor Leo Dacera, program director of the DOJ’s Witness Protection Security and Benefit Program informed the suspect that he has been "provisionally admitted into the program.

"We are pleased to inform you that you have been provisionally admitted into the Witness Protection Security and Benefit Program effective April 28, 2005 for a period not to exceed 90 days, subject to re-evaluation. The benefits to be granted are reimbursement of reasonable traveling expenses, subsistence allowance and security protection during witness duties only," Dacera stated in the letter to the suspect.

Bannah will be living at a safehouse provided by the DOJ.

Dacera said the Witness Protection Security and Benefit Program would be sending an evaluation to the Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response (PACER) to assist Bannah in the execution of the memorandum of agreement pursuant to Republic Act 67981.

He also required Bannah to secure a 2005 residence certificate for his coverage into the witness protection program.

Bannah, 24, a native of Zamboanga City and a resident of Maharlika Village in Taguig, has admitted to State Prosecutor Emmanuel Velasco during the inquest proceedings of the multiple murder and frustrated multiple murder filed against him last March 4, that he participated in the Valentine’s Day bombing in Makati City which killed four people and wounded 103 others.

He said that he was the one who kept and supplied the TNT used for making the explosive device for the Feb. 14 attack.

"I decided to surrender for fear of their (family) lives. I also want to quit from the Abu Sayyaf because I don’t want to commit any more sins. I don’t want to commit more sins against God. They (Abu Sayyaf) might order me again to participate in another bombing operation," Bannah said.

The suspect said he knows Khadafi Janjalani and has direct contact with alleged leader of the Abu Sayyaf as well as Angelo Trinidad, alias Abu Kalil, and Gaml Baharan, alias Tapay, his co-accused in the multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder in connection with the Valentine’s Day bombing in Makati.

The DOJ approved Bannah’s inclusion into the program two weeks after Velasco sought for the same. The prosecutor also asked the Makati court to have his name discharge from the charge sheets.

Velasco claimed Bannah was the least guilty of all the accused, a vital factor in choosing and taking in state witnesses based on the rules of court.

His testimony is of absolute necessity for the prosecution to prove the guilt of the accused.