Suspects in King’s slay seek witness protection

THE legal counsel of the three accused in the murder case of the Cebu-based businessman Richard Lim King has yet to work on the request of the accused to place them under “Witness Protection Program.”

The triggerman, Paul Dave Molina Labang, and brothers Rommel and Rodel dela Cerna, were charged with murder based on the complaint of the victim’s brother James King and the extrajudicial con- fession of the accused who were assisted by lawyer Behn Joseph Tesiorna.

Rodel, in an interview at the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), said his only participation on the crime was driving the motorcycle. He added that he and his brother are willing to swear before the court about what had happened before and after the crime incident.

“Nag-request mi nga unta mabutang mi sa wit- ness protection program para sa seguridad namo ug sa among pamilya. Gani among gipaningkamutan na diri lang jud mi mabutang [DCPO] kay kun didto mi sa Maa City Jail, walay kasiguraduhan among kinabuhi didto (We requested to be placed under the WPP to ensure the safety of our family. We are doing our best to be allowed to remain at DCPO and not be transferred to

the Maa City Jail because we fear for our lives there),” Rodel said.

Rommel echoed the same concern. He said their family received threats via call and text messages from unidentified individuals. He added that they suspected some individuals involved in the crime as behind the threats.

The accused, however, refused to go into details as to who are those people behind the threats. Labang said he’s also hoping that he will be placed under the witness protection program for his and his family’s safety.

Tesiorna, in a separate interview, said he has yet to work on the request of the three suspects. He added that he has yet to negotiate such concern to Public Prosecutor Carlos Castaños, who can only submit the request to the court.

“The court will decide on the matter. I intend to have the accused be qualified as state witness. So, we’ll work on that. For now, what’s important is that their request to stay detained in Davao City Police Office has been granted,” Tesiorna said.

Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 deputy director for Operations Senior Supt. Aaron Aquino, on the other hand, said if the request of the three accused to stay detained at the DCPO was granted, it is not already necessary for them to place under the witness protection program since they are already protected.

Aquino earlier said that while the three suspects are detained, the task group will closely monitor those persons of interest, of which two are women, another police officer, and a retired policeman, who might be the real brains in the murder case. “These persons of interest are King’s friends,” Aquino said. ICT