NGO willing to arrange meet between witness, mayor’s family

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Philippines  â€“ A non-government organization which has custody of the 16-year-old witness in the killing of Infanta Mayor Ruperto Martinez said it is willing to arrange a meeting between the boy and the Martinezes so they would know how the slay was hatched.

 The teenager has linked Gov. Amado Espino Jr. and first district Rep. Jesus Celeste to the killing. Espino, in an affidavit submitted to the Department of Justice (DOJ) the other day, denied having a hand in the slay and questioned the boy’s credibility as a witness.

 In a statement, Gloria de la Cruz, spokesperson of Akap-Bata, said, “If the family of Mayor Martinez so wishes, we can ask the foster parent of the witness to allow the boy to talk to them so that they will know how the murder of Mayor Martinez was planned and carried out.”

“Listen to the child speak and you will know that he is telling the truth,” she added.

 The witness, son of newspaper publisher Jaime Aquino, told National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) probers that he was present when Espino, Celeste and his father allegedly discussed the plan to kill Martinez during a meeting in a resort in Bolinao, Pangasinan.

The boy alleged that Espino and Celeste ordered the killing of Martinez after the mayor learned that the pier in Infanta town was being used to smuggle precious minerals out of Pangasinan.

Based on the boy’s testimony, the NBI filed murder charges against Espino, Celeste and Aquino before the DOJ.

But Martinez’s widow Crisanta submitted a sworn statement to the DOJ clearing Espino and Celeste in her husband’s killing.

De la Cruz said they understand why it is difficult for the Martinezes to accept the witness’ allegations since Espino, Celeste and Martinez were political allies.

Akap-Bata, which advocates children’s rights and welfare, has been instrumental in taking the young witness to the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The boy sought refuge from Akap-Bata allegedly to avoid abuse from his father. It was during the interview with social workers when he narrated what allegedly knew about Martinez’s killing. Aquino, however, denied that he was maltreating his son.