Suspect in Aurora journalist’s slay to turn state witness

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has allowed a suspect in the killing of a newspaper-publisher in Dingalan, Aurora to be a star witness.

A source from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) told The Star yesterday that murder charges against Reynaldo Morete, a cousin of the two other suspects — Noli "Boyet" Morete and Emmanuel Alday, who are still at large — are slated to be dropped.

The three were charged with the murder of Philip Agustin, publisher-editor of Starline News Recorder in Barangay Paltic in Dingalan last May 10. The last issue of Agustin’s newspaper reportedly carried articles exposing alleged anomalies involving Dingalan Mayor Jaime Ylarde.

The source said Reynaldo has signed another affidavit pointing to Ylarde as the mastermind in the killing of Agustin.

Reached by The STAR for comment, Ylarde expressed surprise over the turn of events, as an earlier statement of Reynado excluded his name in the testimony.

"I now tend to think the issue is politically motivated. How can he now implicate me in his testimony which runs into conflict with his earlier statements?" Ylarde asked.

Ylarde admitted he had once "seen" Reynaldo but insisted he did not know him. "I remember he was one of those recruited by the local government to work on an oyster project. He was employed there but only because he was one among the many who had applied. I want to give jobs to my constituents," he said.