Friday, October 17, 2008 Official asked me to drop case: Abellana
WITH his father, mother and seven-year-old brother, Osbert Abellana arrived at the Office of the Regional State Prosecutor (ORSP) yesterday and completed his requirements for the Witness Protection Program (WPP).
Osbert’s father, Oscar, said they were not able to complete the documents earlier because Osbert had fallen ill with fever.
Even as they completed the requirements, Oscar said a barangay official has been asking him to drop the criminal case against Joavan Fernandez.
Yesterday, the Abellana family was escorted by police when they handed over documents to Graeme June Elmido, who evaluates applications for the WPP.
Andrea, Osbert’s mother, told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday she did not feel that her life was threatened enough for her to apply for government protection.
She said she and her seven-year-old son were only there at the ORSP to accompany Osbert and Oscar in finishing their applications.
Andrea said she was ready to adjust to changes in their lifestyles if Osbert and Oscar get into the government’s protection program.
Osbert, 21, is the lone complainant who did not withdraw his case of serious illegal detention against Joavan, the son of Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez.
He and Oscar applied for state protection last October 9.
The move was the result of alleged threats on Osbert from Joavan, and on Oscar from Mayor Fernandez.
They brought with them yesterday a document from Talisay Police Chief Jovito Canlapan recommending the two for the WPP.
They had sworn statements and police blotters narrating the alleged threats they received from the mayor and his son.
They also brought Oscar and Andrea’s certificate of marriage, as well as birth certificates of their minor children.
Elmido said that once all the needed documents are in, it will only take a few days for him to forward the Abellanas’ application to Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez.
He said, though, that he cannot tell how long it will take for Gonzales to act on the applications. But he said the Department of Justice will take note of the case.
Yesterday, Oscar said a barangay official has been asking him to drop the case against Joavan.
Oscar, who stands as his son’s witness, said he was disturbed by the the village official’s move but refused to identify him out of his respect for the man. (KAB/With GC)
