Witness backs out of Comelec official's murder case

MANILA, Philippines - A witness to the murder of two Commission on Elections (Comelec) executives has left the government's witness protection program. Identified only as Marissa, the witness claimed she was coached into reciting a testimony before media on the killing of Comelec legal officer Alioden Dalaig and Wynne Asdala. "Tama na, ayoko na, para akong tanga ... Tinuruan nila ako anong isasagot ko sa media. Parang sinungaling ako (I've had enough. I've been treated like an idiot. They even taught me what to say to media. I feel like a liar)," she said in a predawn interview with dzBB radio's Roland Bola Saturday. But she also admitted part of her reason was the refusal of officials to raise her allowance by P2,000. She said she presently gets P6,000 from the witness protection program. In contrast, she said she used to get P14,000 from the Manila Police District (MPD). When told about possible threats to her life if she leaves the witness protection program, she said, "Bahala na (I leave it all to God)." "Buo na loob ko, hindi na babalik (I've made up my mind. I'm not coming back)," she said. Last June, Marissa said she felt the security offered by the MPD is no longer sufficient after receiving reports that a policeman linked to the killings bolted detention and is now at large. PO1 Basser Ampatuan, who had been linked to the murder of Dalaig and Asdala, gave his police guards the slip after going inside the men's room of Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City. He had been detained at the office of camp commander Sr. Supt. Co Yee Co Jr. after he was arrested last April. Ampatuan, 36, was tagged as the triggerman in the killing of Dalaig and was linked to the killing of Asdala. Dalaig was gunned down outside a casino hotel at the corner of Pedro Gil and M.H. del Pilar streets, Malate, Manila on Nov. 10, 2007. Asdala was shot dead while returning to Comelec after a lunch break. - GMANews.TV