Tuesday, January 16, 2007 Loren's estranged hubby charged with homicide
POLICE on Monday sued former Batangas governor Antonio "Tony" Leviste for homicide in connection with the killing of his long-time business associate last Friday in Makati city.
They have to yet to discern however the motive behind the incident aside from Leviste's claim of self-defense as the former government official who is confined at the Makati Medical Center opted to remain silent on the case.
But Nelia Gonzalez, one of the staffers of Leviste at the Jalco Group of Companies, said in a sworn statement to the police that a heated argument preceded the killing of Rafael de Las Alas at Leviste's 9th floor office at the LPL Tower at Legaspi Village Makati.
Gonzalez said the argument centered on the new administrative policies being implemented by Leviste for the company which she said De Las Alas resented.
"I heard them arguing inside the office with the governor saying "Paeng (nickname of the victim) liwanagin na natin ang conduct ng administrative function na hindi natin natapos kagabi but Ka Paeng answered "Hindi mo pwedeng kontrolin ito," the lady staffer's statement said.
She added that the argument went back and forth for several minutes before the gunshots were heard.
She added that the two were also arguing about some financial matters, particularly the payment of Leviste to the victim.
Another issue she said was the swapping of a house somewhere in Parañaque City in return for a parcel of land in Pangasinan.
Gonzalez said from the argument, it was the victim who was agitated as he was speaking in an irritated voice.
The victim, aside from being a close friend of Leviste for the past four decades, also served as his senior executive assistant.
The victim's daughter Dinna Sanchez, who served as the complainant in the case, earlier said that all she knows was that the two had a problem about their work but did not provide additional details.
She likewise said their family was looking at asking the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to help the ongoing investigation.
Earlier, the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (Vacc) said the NBI should takeover the inquiry as the group feared a "railroading" of the investigation.
But Makati Police Chief Gilbert Cruz said the initial evidence only warranted homicide charges although he said it could be upgraded to murder if the ongoing inquiry finds premeditation on the part of Leviste when he shot the victim.
"The charges can be upgraded to murder if there is evidence that the shooting was planned but right now we are only filing homicide charges," Cruz added.
He likewise allayed the fear of the slain family of a "whitewash", adding that there investigation is still continuing.
The Makati police have also requested the PNP Crime Laboratory to submit Leviste to a paraffin test but Leviste refused.
A .38 caliber and a 9mm pistol that reportedly belonged to Leviste and de Las Alas were submitted to the PNP Firearms and Explosives Division for analysis.
Police also recovered four bullet shells in the crime scene but it has yet to be determined from what firearm it came from.
Makati police Criminal Investigation Division head Senior Inspector Eduardo Paningbatan said the charge was based on the complaint of the victim's daughter and the sworn statement of Gonzalez and lawyer Rex Raynaldo Sandoval.
The inquest was administered by 2nd Assistant City Prosecutor Henry Salazar at the seventh-floor emergency room of Leviste at the Makati Medical Center where he is confined after complaining of high blood pressure after the incident.
A medical bulletin issued by Leviste's attending physician, Reynato Casilag, said Leviste is suffering from hypertensive cardio-vascular disease and is advised to stay at the hospital for a few more days.
Casilag said Leviste is being administered anti-hypertensive medication and sedatives. Leviste suffered a stroke five years ago. (AH/Sunnex)
