Monday, January 15, 2007 Family wants probe into killing of ex-guv's pal
THE family of the slain associate of former Batangas governor Antonio Leviste vowed to exhaust all legal means to get justice for their relative as homicide charges will be filed Monday against the former provincial official before the Makati City Prosecutor's Office.
Dina, a daughter of the victim Rafael delas Alas, said they consider asking the National Bureau of Investigation [NBI], the country's top law enforcement and investigating agency, to step into the ongoing investigation on the killing of her father.
"We will fight to the end to get justice for my father," said Dina in a media interview during the victim's wake at the Arlington Funeral Homes in Quezon City.
She said aside from the NBI, they are also looking at the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to help in the investigation.
"We have many option like asking the NBI and the CIDG for their expertise but we are still studying the matter," said Dina who added that CIDG officials visited the wake last Saturday and offered to help in the investigation.
Earlier, the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (Vacc) called for the NBI to step into the investigation citing the agency's expertise in similar cases
Vacc chairman Dante Jimenez feared that the investigation might be railroaded "because of Leviste's connection and influence on some authorities."
But the younger delas Alas said they do not doubt the skills of the Makati police, which is spearheading the investigation.
Asked to comment on the possible motive in the killing, Dina said they are still at a loss as what had triggered Leviste to shoot his father adding that the two had been close friends.
"They (Rafael and Leviste) had been friends for about 42 years but certainly there might be disagreements between them over such a long period but I can't think of a serious one," Dina said although she did not elaborate when asked what caused the disagreement.
Meanwhile, Makati Police Chief Gilbert Cruz said the charges against Leviste might be upgraded to murder if it comes out in the investigation that there was premeditation on the part of Leviste although he claimed self-defense in killing Rafael.
Although police authorities have declared the case is solved with the surrender of Leviste, the former governor has yet to be questioned on the incident due to his condition.
Cruz also said they are looking for witnesses, including a man who tried to mediate the argument between Rafael and Leviste prior to the shooting at Leviste's office at the 9th floor of the LPL Tower in Legazpi Village, Makati.
Leviste was rushed to the Makati Medical Center (MMC) hours after the incident last Friday after complaining of high blood pressure. His doctor, Reynato Casilag, said Leviste is suffering from hypertensive cardio-vascular disease and he advised the former governor to stay in the hospital for close monitoring of his condition.
Sources said Leviste suffered a stroke five years ago and that explained his fragile condition.
Early reports said members of the PNP Crime Laboratory subjected Leviste to a paraffin test to determine who fired the two guns found at the crime scene.
Police said the result of the paraffin test "would be used as hard evidence in case Leviste changes his statement."
A caliber .380 revolver and a caliber .9mm pistol were found at the scene along with four empty shells and broken bottles of wine although Cruz said the room was not in disarray when they arrived.
Leviste owns the revolver, while the 9mm was found at the hand of the victim when responding policemen arrived at the site.
An autopsy report showed that the two shots were fired directly at Rafael's face while another exited through the left side of the victim's head. (AH/Sunnex)
