CSA gun-poking victim takes witness stand

MANILA, Philippines - A former high school student of the Colegio San Agustin (CSA), who accused his classmate’s father of poking a gun at him in the school’s faculty room two years ago, took the witness stand yesterday.

Now 20-year-old Jesus Manuel Garcia, during direct examination by his lawyer Dominic Balane, affirmed the veracity of his Nov. 7, 2013 judicial affidavit and his Aug. 30, 2012 narrative report he submitted to CSA officials during the hearing at the Makati City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 64, which is trying Allan Bantiles on grave threat charges.

Bantiles, who pleaded not guilty, was not present during yesterday’s hearing.

Balane told the court that the contents of Garcia’s narrative report and his judicial affidavit will serve as his court testimony. Garcia, now a freshman taking up theater arts, left CSA and transferred to another school, where he finished his high school studies following the incident.

Judge Lourdes Barrios-Sapalo meanwhile scheduled Garcia’s cross-examination by the defense panel, led by Richard Nethercott, on Dec. 2.

Garcia served as the third and last witness to be presented by the prosecution panel. Last May 6, the prosecution panel presented as its witness CSA assistant liaison officer Jennifer Duma.

Duma said in her judicial affidavit that she saw Bantiles draw a gun from a sling bag carried by his companion as the suspect was talking to Garcia at the receiving area of the CSA high school faculty room at around 11 a.m. on Aug. 30, 2012.

Bantiles, a construction contractor, earlier had his licenses for a Glock 9mm pistol and a .45 caliber pistol revoked by the Philippine National Police in the wake of the alleged gun-poking.