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CEBU CITY, Philippines ? If a provincial inmate is to be believed, the killing of Cebu City Bantay Dagat Commissioner Elpidio ?Jojo? dela Victoria in April 12, 2006 was done by more than one person.
Lawyer Vicente Fernandez on Tuesday met Capitol consultant on security, Byron Garcia to check information that one of the inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) allegedly admitted taking part in the crime.
Fernandez is one of the lawyers of former policeman Marcial Ocampo, who was found guilty in September 2006 of killing dela Victoria, Cebu City?s Bantay Dagat leader who led raids against illegal fishing operators. Ocampo was sentenced to 20 to 40 years in jail and fined P900,000.
Although he was not uncertain of the inmate's role in the crime, Garcia confirmed that he heard in late 2006 about a prisoner, jailed for a drug-related case, who admitted taking part in dela Victoria's killing.
?He (Fernandez) was interested to know if it was really true, if it?s admissible or inadmissible in court. He wanted to pursue his client's defense,? Garcia said.
The family of the victim, Fernandez said, should dig deeper into the information.
?That is, if they want justice. Because if that is the case, real justice is not achieved because the real perpetrator is still at large,? he said.
Police have yet to name the mastermind in the killing nearly two years after the incident.
Garcia told reporters that he heard of that report from the jail's council of leaders, a group of inmates tasked to discipline the other inmates.
Garcia, however, said the information was just relayed to him and hearsay or inadmissible in court.
He said the inmate is an ex-policemen or former member of the defunct Philippine Constabulary with a reputation as a gun for hire.
Dela Victoria, 47 was killed by a lone gunman outside his home in Barangay San Roque, Talisay City. /Chief of Reporters Suzzane Salva-Alueta
