P’sinan top cop denies knowing murder witness

DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines – Pangasinan police director Senior Superintendent Marlou Chan yesterday denied allegations against him by an alleged star witness who had recanted his statement in the killing of Infanta town mayor last year.

Chan told Bombo Radyo Dagupan that he never knew the 16-year-old boy and had never talk or mingle with him.

The witness on Thursday recanted his statement against Gov. Amado Espino. Jr. and Rep. Jesus Celeste whom he tagged earlier as the masterminds in the killing of Infanta mayor Ruperto Martinez.

He claimed he allegedly overheard Espino and Celeste plotting the murder of Martinez.

“Never in my entire life did I have any connection with him,” Chan said in reaction to the boy’s allegations that he accompanied him to the lawyer to give his testimony.

The National Bureau of Investigation used the boy’s statement as basis for the filing of murder charges against Espino and Celeste.

However, the boy slipped from Camp Crame where he was held under custody under the Witness Protection Program and sought Espino’s and Celeste’s forgiveness. 

Chan said he never met nor talked with the boy and there was never a chance that they were together.

“I have nothing to do with him, that accusation as far as I am concerned, is false,” he said.

Meanwhile, lawyer Leonido “Bodie” Pulido, whom the boy claimed as the one who prepared his testimony expressed worry about the witness’ condition.

“I want to know under whose custody is the child now? Who called the press conference and who were with him?” Pulido said.

He said the Court of Appeals had ruled that the witness should be under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Pulido described as absurd and unbelievable the witness’ claims that he forced him to sign documents implicating the governor and the lawmaker in the murder case.