The key witness in the February 2 killing of former Laoag City Vice Mayor Jimmy O. Chua was not pressured by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) into signing his fourth affidavit, Ilocos Norte Governor Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on April 26.

Marcos defended the NBI after Laoag City Councilor Modesto Melvin M. dela Cuesta signed a fifth affidavit submitted on April 25 during a Department of Justice preliminary investigation wherein he recanted the affidavit signed while he was under the protective custody of the NBI.

In his fourth affidavit, Dela Cuesta said it was Laoag City Mayor Michael V. Fariñas who “accidentally shot” Chua before dawn of February 2 at the Eagle’s Nest Bar and Restaurant.

Marcos strongly denounced there must someone or something that forces the city councilor not to say anything.

“I think he [Dela Cuesta] was forced to say things he had said because when he was at the NBI, nobody ever tried to stop him. He could leave whenever he wanted. He even asked for security from the provincial and regional police director because he wanted policemen guarding him there,” Marcos said.

Marcos said during Dela Cuesta’s stay at the NBI, there were several occasions when he would move out of the office for a day or two and NBI employees never restricted him.

“That means, he was not under lock and key and he was not being forced to go to the NBI. He could have left anytime he wanted. So it’s a wonder that he would now say that the NBI pressured him. That makes me conclude that somebody or someone or something is pressuring him not to tell the truth,” Marcos stressed.

Now that Dela Cuesta has recanted his earlier sworn statement, Marcos said the DOJ will restudy the investigation based on physical evidence and testimony from several witnesses.

“He is not the only witness. There are still others but he was the first to come out because he was the one who was there at the time of the crime so he should come out and say what really happened,” Marcos said.

Leilanie G. Adriano