Victim's daughter testifies
in Leviste trial

THE prosecution in the murder case against former Batangas governor Jose Antonio Leviste on Wednesday presented two witnesses to belie the defense allegation that Leviste's long-time aide Rafael delas Alas was planning to confront or kill Leviste on Jan. 12, 2007.

Delas Alas' daughter Dina Sanchez said she and her father were set to go to Divisoria on that day but Leviste summoned her father to his LPL Tower office in Makati. "Tinawagan niya ako mga past 10 am at kinansela niya ang aming lakad. Bigla daw siyang ipinatawag at nagmamadali siya. Alam ko si Gob ang nagpatawag sa kanya," she said, referring to Leviste. She added that she was then staying in Imus, Cavite and was supposed to meet her father in his place in Sampaloc after lunch.

Sanchez also testified that her 67-year old father had many plans for the family as she debunked the defense allegation that the latter was planning to "die that day." "Napakarami po ng plano niya para sa amin at sa aking dalawang half-brother. Walang katotohanan na handa na siyang mamatay ng araw na iyon. Nagpaluto pa nga siya ng adobo ng araw na iyon," she said.

Another witness, Melissa Cielo, barangay councilwoman of Sampaloc and Delas Alas' neighbor, said she saw and talked to Delas Alas the day he died. "Bumili pa siya ng pagkain sa aking karinderya pero bago siya bumili pinakain niya muna ang kanyang driver," Cielo said. "Maaliwalas ang kanyang mukha at parang walang kaproble-problema."

Senior state prosecutor Emmanuel Velasco said the two testimonies bolstered their contention that Delas Alas had no plan to harm Leviste as argued by the defense. Leviste had admitted shooting the victim during a heated argument but said it was in self-defense.

Leviste dismissed yesterday's testimonies as "pathetic" and "no-bearing." He said Sanchez's testimony was "full of lies," called Velasco a "persecutor" and denied summoning Delas Alas to his office.

"I don't know what (Velasco) has against me but I think he is intent on convicting an innocent person. I swear to God, mamatay na buong pamilya ko at masagasaan ako ng truck paglabas ko dito, I didn't talk to (Delas Alas) that morning. What they were saying is a damn lie," he said.