Witness defends Roxas slay suspects
ROXAS CITY – A defense witness in the murder case of RMN broadcaster Martin Roxas maintained that the two suspects – Christian Tan and Jonel Lastimoso – are innocent of the crime.
Melvin Ronald Barredo, 23, of Sunshine Village, Banica, Roxas City who testified in yesterday’s hearing said that during the incident Tan stayed at their house because he was having a quarrel with his brother Elvin.
He narrated that on August 7, 2008, Tan asked him to leave their house to look for spray painting and was able to return back at 12 noon. He said that Tan spray painted his single motorcycle and was able to leave at their house again at around 2:30 p.m of the same day.
The witness said that Tan borrowed his single motorcycle with two jackets and two helmets as he (Tan) and friend Lastimoso will go to Ivisan, Capiz.
Barredo admitted that the two jackets and two helmets were owned by him while the single motorcycle which was recovered from the two suspects is registered under the name of his father Ronnie Barredo.
The witness said that Tan and Lastimoso were innocent of the crime. Barredo will continue with his testimony on the next hearing set on September 24.
Roxas, 32, was shot by two motorcycle-riding suspects around 1:30 p.m. on August 7, 2008 along Bayot Drive. Roxas has just finished his noontime radio program “Targetanay sa Udto” at RMN-dyVR and was about to go home for lunch when reached by the gunmen.
A lady witness said that she saw two motorcycle-riding gunmen tailing Roxas along Bayot Drive before they shoot the latter at close range. She said, after shooting Roxas the suspects escaped towards Ivisan, Capiz.
Police later identified the two suspects as Tan and Lastimoso. Tan was arrested at a police checkpoint in Ivisan while Lastimoso was able to escape but later captured by the police during a hot pursuit operation.
Roxas City PNP claimed the case is already solved since the suspects were already captured and are now detained at the Capiz provincial jail facing murder charges.
However, John Herredia, president of National Union Journalist of the Philippines (NUJP)-Capiz chapter, said that the case could not be considered solved since it is still being heard in court.
The murder case in connection with Roxas slay is being heard at the sala of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Edward Contreras.