Witness to Comelec legal head's slay now under gov't protection program

The prime witness in the killing of the former chief of the legal department of the Commission on Elections is now under the Department of Justice (DOJ) witness protection program.

“Marissa,” not her real name, has been in the custody of the Manila Police District (MPD) since May after she identified Police Officer 1 Basser Ampatuan as the alleged gunman in the murder of lawyer Alioden Dalaig on Nov. 10 in front of the Hyatt Hotel in Ermita.

Ampatuan, a Mindanao policeman, was subsequently arrested but escaped from his detention in Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig. He remains at large. A murder case against him is pending at a Manila court.

In a letter to MPD homicide section head Chief Inspector Dominador Arevalo Jr. dated Aug. 19, DOJ program director Leo Dacera said they have approved Marissa’s admission into the program effective June 11 for a period of six months, subject to periodic evaluation.

In an interview, Marissa admitted fearing for her life following Ampatuan’s escape. She suspects Ampatuan paid for his freedom and would even pay assassins to liquidate her.

“I knew all along that there was laxity on the part of Basser’s escorts when I saw him without handcuffs during the preliminary investigation at the fiscal’s office in Manila. I believe he was set free by the police,” Marissa told The STAR.   

Arevalo said proper procedures had been observed at the MPD to ensure that no one, except policemen, can bring in weapons.