Manila, Philippines - Justice Secretary Leila de Lima warned yesterday that she might remove Alfred Mendiola, the lone state witness in the abduction and murder of car trader Venson Evangelista, from the state’s Witness Protection Program if he will again leave the custody of the government.
De Lima issued the warning after she visited Mendiola at the Bulacan Provincial Jail (BPJ) yesterday where the latter sought refuge after he left the DOJ’s WPP premises Tuesday.
“I will remove him from Witness Protection Program if he will do that again,” said De Lim after a morning visit at the BPJ.
She said she already ordered an investigation why Mendiola decided to seek refuge at the BPJ.
De Lima said she allowed Mendiola to stay at the BPJ, but she also submitted a manifestation in court that he is no longer in the custody of the DOJ.
For his part, Mendiola said he left the DOJ custody because he wants to be closer to his family adding that he already has friends in at the BPJ. Mendiola was previously detained at the BPJ where he also met the Dominguez brothers.
He also justified his action saying he did nothing wrong because he is not a detainee of the DOJ.
Mendiola also assured that he would continue to be a state witness against the Dominguez brothers.
Mendiola’s lawyer earlier claimed that an emissary of the Dominguez brothers offered a P10 million bribe to his client but the latter declined it.