Anakalusugan Rep. Michael Defensor yesterday said three witnesses who received cash reward for information that led to the arrest of alleged mastermind in the Batocabe slay case should return the bounty.
In a press conference, Defensor said he is satisfied with the way the Philippine National Police handled the disbursement of the bounty it received for distribution to the State witnesses.
“Justin Batocabe was very satisfied. Ang problema lang ay ang court that granted bail for the accused,” said Defensor, referring to the son of the late Ako Bicol partylist Rep. Rodel Batocabe who was killed in an ambush in Daraga City, Albay last year.
Defensor said the three witnesses who flip-flopped from their original statements will be called to the next hearing of the Batocabe reward money investigation being conducted by the House public accounts panel which he heads.
The administration lawmaker aired the possibility that the three witnesses changed their stories after receiving the cash rewards because they were also bribed by the accused.
Justin, a lawyer, disclosed in the hearing that the recantations may have been triggered by money and threats received by the three witnesses.
Defensor said he expects that the witnesses will air their side in the next hearing.
“Dapat talaga bawiin ang reward, kasi ang una nilang testimonya ang naging batayan kung bakit natanggap ang pondo,” the partylist lawmaker said.
Defensor said members of the House public accounts committee argued fiercely over the reasons behind the decision of the PNP to grant reward to even those who were not the least guilty and this included suspected triggermen. (Ben Rosario)
