NBI: Rubout witness has no lawyer

MANILA, Philippines - The lone witness to a rubout in Sampaloc, Manila two weeks ago has yet to put his confession to paper since he has no lawyer, an official said yesterday.

Manny Eduarte, chief of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Anti-Organized Transnational Crime Division, said the bureau sent a letter to the Public Attorney’s Office on Monday to seek legal assistance for “Dagul,” 21.

“But until now the PAO has not sent anyone. This case is ASAP,” he said.

Dagul surrendered to NBI over the weekend to reveal what he knows of the July 14 rubout in Sampaloc. In media interviews, he alleged that police officers from Gulod precinct set up suspected robber Robin Villarosa to stop him from robbing people around University of Santo Tomas.

His testimony will be used to bolster the murder case against the five police officers.

Eduarte said while investigators look at Dagul as a witness, he is still considered a suspect in the case until the prosecutor decides not to include him in the charge sheet.

“That’s why we cannot get his affidavit without a lawyer. That’s his constitutional right,” he said.