ANGELES CITY – The lone state witness against brothers Raymond and Roger Dominguez who were tagged as masterminds in the carnap-murder of car dealer Venson Evangelista has appealed to his “cabalens” in this city to pray for his safety.
Willie Rivera, lawyer of state witness Alfred Mendiola, said his client noted that only recently, political leaders in Calumpit, Bulacan, hometown of the Dominguez brothers, held a mass for peace in relation to the cases the brothers are facing.
While it was not clear whether the Mass was held for the benefit of the accused brothers, Mendiola expressed wish that folk in this city where he was born would also pray for his safety, Rivera said. Mendiola is from Barangay Pulong Bulu here.
“His (Mendiola’s) life remains in danger. This was after he refused an offer of P10 million for him not to testify on the case,” Rivera said.
Mendiola was admitted to the Department of Justice’s Witness Protection Security and Benefit Program effective last Feb. 7.
Rivera said that Mendiola’s companion, who was also initially listed as suspect together with the Dominguez brothers, has been dropped from the list as prosecutors did not find him involved in the kidnap-murder case.
The Dominguez brothers had pleaded not guilty during their recent arraignment before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 215.
Rivera said Mendiola was approved as state witness, saying his client “clinched the filing of the case against the principals” and that “without the testimony of Mendiola, no other direct evidence was available for the prosecution to prove the elements of the crime.”
Rivera recalled that Mendiola merely posed as a buyer of Evangelista’s Toyota Land Cruiser and had least participation in Evangelista’s kidnap and murder later.
The RTC had also earlier issued subpoena to Katrina Paula, Julianne Alyssa Crisostomo, Rolando Talban and one alias “Joel” in connection with the case.
Mendiola had also tagged a certain Anne as the companion of Roger Dominguez in paying P200,0000 for a new car plate and documents for the Land Cruiser stolen from Evangelista whose burnt body was recovered in Cabanatuan City.
Rivera said that the “circumstantial evidences” are “strong” against the Dominguez brothers.
The police are also looking into the involvement of the brothers in the carnap-murder case of Emerson Lozano and his driver Ernani Cencil whose burned bodies were found in Pampanga and Tarlac, respectively. In both the cases, the victims were supposed to sell second hand vehicles to alleged poseurs of the Dominguez brothers, but were later abducted and killed.
Willie Rivera, lawyer of state witness Alfred Mendiola, said his client noted that only recently, political leaders in Calumpit, Bulacan, hometown of the Dominguez brothers, held a mass for peace in relation to the cases the brothers are facing.
While it was not clear whether the Mass was held for the benefit of the accused brothers, Mendiola expressed wish that folk in this city where he was born would also pray for his safety, Rivera said. Mendiola is from Barangay Pulong Bulu here.
“His (Mendiola’s) life remains in danger. This was after he refused an offer of P10 million for him not to testify on the case,” Rivera said.
Mendiola was admitted to the Department of Justice’s Witness Protection Security and Benefit Program effective last Feb. 7.
Rivera said that Mendiola’s companion, who was also initially listed as suspect together with the Dominguez brothers, has been dropped from the list as prosecutors did not find him involved in the kidnap-murder case.
The Dominguez brothers had pleaded not guilty during their recent arraignment before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 215.
Rivera said Mendiola was approved as state witness, saying his client “clinched the filing of the case against the principals” and that “without the testimony of Mendiola, no other direct evidence was available for the prosecution to prove the elements of the crime.”
Rivera recalled that Mendiola merely posed as a buyer of Evangelista’s Toyota Land Cruiser and had least participation in Evangelista’s kidnap and murder later.
The RTC had also earlier issued subpoena to Katrina Paula, Julianne Alyssa Crisostomo, Rolando Talban and one alias “Joel” in connection with the case.
Mendiola had also tagged a certain Anne as the companion of Roger Dominguez in paying P200,0000 for a new car plate and documents for the Land Cruiser stolen from Evangelista whose burnt body was recovered in Cabanatuan City.
Rivera said that the “circumstantial evidences” are “strong” against the Dominguez brothers.
The police are also looking into the involvement of the brothers in the carnap-murder case of Emerson Lozano and his driver Ernani Cencil whose burned bodies were found in Pampanga and Tarlac, respectively. In both the cases, the victims were supposed to sell second hand vehicles to alleged poseurs of the Dominguez brothers, but were later abducted and killed.
