Two aides of Quezon mayor as witnesses?

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — The aides of Panukulan, Quezon Mayor Ronnie Mitra, arrested for a shipment of 503 kilos of high-grade shabu, may qualify as state witnesses under the government’s witness protection program.

Director Thompson Lantion, police-community relations chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said Javier Morilla and Roel Dequilla, who were arrested along with Mitra and Chinese national William Yao, may qualify under the program if it is proven that they merely followed the mayor’s orders.

"They were just possibly following the mayor’s orders and perhaps have limited participation, being his employees," Lantion said.

However, Lantion, here for an anti-illegal drug summit, said the PNP still has to investigate the degree of involvement of Mitra’s aides in the drug shipment.

"So far, they seem to be the least guilty. And if they, indeed, qualify and want to be a part of the witness protection program, we will recommend their inclusion to the justice department," he said.

"But definitely, Mayor Mitra does not qualify under the witness protection program even if he wants to tell all that he knows about the operations of the drug syndicate," he added. "This is because he appears to be the most guilty."

National Bureau of Investigation director Reynaldo Wycoco, meanwhile, said probers have a vital witness who can pin down Mitra on drug trafficking charges. He refused to identify the witness.

It could not be ascertained if Wycoco was referring to Mitra’s cousin Dominito who has surfaced and expressed willingness to testify against the mayor.

Dominito, now under the custody of the PNP Narcotics Group, owned the motorized banca used in ferrying the shabu shipment ashore.

The illegal drugs, transported on board a municipal ambulance and Mitra’s Starex van, were intercepted by a joint team of the PNP Narcotics Group and the National Bureau of Investigation in Barangay Kiloloran, Real, Quezon last Sunday. — With Mike Frialde