AKAP-BATA PARTYLIST MOTIVE QUESTIONED

INFANTA–The family members of slain Infanta Mayor Ruperto Martinez rejected the offer of a partylist to arrange a meeting between them and what they called a “self-styled” witness to the Dec. 15, 2012 murder.

The family also questioned the motive of the group, Akap Bata Partylist, in involving itself in the case, which is running for a congressional seat in the May 13 elections.

“Why only now, more than four months after the alleged teen-aged witness surfaced, when the case is about to be resolved, that Akap Bata Foundation is suddenly offering to arrange a meeting between us and the alleged witness?” a member of the Martinez family said in a press conference last May 1.

The family stressed that it has no connection whatsoever with Akap Bata and they believe the group has no moral ascendancy or obligation to initiate the filing of charges against Gov. Amado Espino Jr. and 1st District Rep. Jesus Celeste for allegedly masterminding the crime.

“So what gave them the ‘personality’ to pick up the cudgels for us, and why did they take it upon themselves essentially to file the case against Governor Espino and Congressman Celeste, without consulting us, or without at least the basic courtesy of informing us about this supposed testimony of a 16-year old minor?” the Martinezes pointed out.

Akap Bata has reportedly taken custody of the supposed witness, identified as Justin Aquino, who claimed he overheard the Espino, Celeste and his own father plot the murder of Martinez in a resort in Pangasinan.

“If it is true, as they claim, that they took custody of the child witness because he was allegedly abused by his own father, isn’t it highly suspicious that up to now they have not filed a case against the child’s father, in order to protect the interest of the minor, which is supposed to be the main concern of Akap Bata?” they asked.

“Instead, they have actively pursued the obviously fabricated charges against Gov. Espino and Congressman Celeste,” they added.

“Akap Bata should have consulted with us first before going to the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) and the DOJ (Department of Justice) to file the complaint, as if they were the aggrieved party,” Richard pointed out.

BRAGANZA ALLY?

The family said it suspects that Akap Bata has an alliance with Alaminos City Mayor Hernani Braganza.

Braganza’s campaigners reportedly distribute leaflets endorsing Akap Bata along with Braganza’s leaflets.

Martinez’s sons Marvin and Richard, with his wife Jennifer, called the press conference in Manila to express support to Espino’s motion for the outright dismissal of the case on the ground that it was “pure fabrication”.

The Pangasinan police reportedly captured two suspected gunmen hours after the murder, but the case has not progressed in court.

The Martinezes have filed a separate murder charge against their father’s political rival, a certain lawyer identified only as Atty. Florante Miano, before the Regional Trial Court branch in Alaminos City.

“Our quest for justice is being misled by politics. The death of our father has been exploited to promote the political agenda of some people. Worse, those who are most innocent are being framed up and accused while the real masterminds go scot-free and continue to sow deceit and lies at the expense of true justice for the death of our father,” the Martinez siblings said.

Martinez’s widow Crisanta stressed that Espino and Celeste were close allies of her husband in the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) party.

The widow said she and her children refused to sign the complaint prepared by the NBI and insisted that the authorities should instead go after her husband’s known political foe whom she identified as lawyer Florante Miano.

She stressed that justice would never be served for her husband’s murder “unless the real killers are put behind bars.”

“But this would never happen if the authorities would continue to be used by certain political quarters for their own selfish motives,” she lamented.

ESPINO ASKS DOJ TO DROP MURDER RAP

EMBATTLED Gov. Amado Espino Jr. has asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to immediately drop the charges against him and 1st District Rep. Jesus Celeste for allegedly masterminding the murder of Infanta Mayor Ruperto Martinez who was gunned down on December 15, 2012.

In his counter-affidavit filed by his lawyers during the preliminary hearing of the case, Espino asserted that Martinez was a “personal friend and an ally” hence, he would not have any motive to harm the mayor.

Espino also challenged the agency to “deliver true justice to the murder of Infanta Mayor Ruperto Martinez by arresting and prosecuting the real culprits.”

The governor pointed out that the lone witness whose testimony was used by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to file the case “is not a credible witness, having a checkered history involving errant school behavior, previous incidents of duping people for money, threatening his siblings, and drug use.”

Meanwhile, one of Celeste’s lawyers has belied a report circulating through text messages that the Espino and Celeste will be arrested soon.

Lawyer Joseph Segundera, lead counsel of Celeste, said in a radio interview that the report is “baseless and mere black propaganda”.

The text messages said the governor and the congressman would be arrested by the first week of May.

“The case is not yet resolved by the DOJ panel so who would issue the warrant of arrest,” Segundera said.

HEARING

A hearing is set on May 10 and the complainants, Akap Bata and the NBI, would then submit their reply affidavit, Segundera said.

As soon as they receive this, the two accused would be given 10 days to file their rejoinder.

 

“It is only upon that time after we have submitted our rejoinder and there is no more order for clarificatory hearing, will be the only time that the case is deemed submitted for resolution,” Segundera added.

Celeste, for his part, expressed optimism that the charges against him and Espino would eventually be decided in their favor.

Speaking after the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) local proclamation in Alaminos City last April 30, Celeste expressed confidence that no arrest warrant will be issued at any time saying, “Hindi na po siguro mangyayari ‘yon dahil mapapatunayan na rin ng mga abogado natin ang totoong nangyari. Malabo na yon, paninira na lang yon.”—with reports from Eva Visperas and Johanne R. Macob   

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