Star witness in Dominguez carjack case found dead in Cavite

(Updated 1:46 p.m.) A key witness in a criminal case against suspected carjack gang leaders Raymond and Roger Dominguez was found dead in Cavite province over the weekend.   A radio dzBB said witness Alfred Mendiola and two others were found dead in Salawag Village, Dasmariñas, Cavite on Sunday. One of the two other fatalities was identified as Angelo Miranda Herrera, who was allegedly Mendiola's boyfriend. The third victim was reportedly Herrera's uncle.   The bodies were found tied up with cable while their faces were wrapped in masking tape.   Mendiola was under the government's witness protection program. However, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Mendiola refused 24-hour security protection. "Meron mga ganung witness [na] ayaw ng may security. Within this week,  kakausapin sana namin siya na we have no choice but to terminate his WPP coverage kasi hindi niya nasunod [ang] rules," De Lima said. Part of the agreement, De Lima said, is that authorities should be informed of the witnesses' whereabouts. "Nakakatanggap kami [ng] report [na] madalas, aalis siya nang walang abiso." Frightened Arsenio Evangelista, father of  murdered car dealer Venson Evangelista, an alleged victim of the Dominguez brothers, said the murder of Mendiola and two others has frightened him. "Natatakot na ako," Arsenio said.  Venson was allegedly abducted and killed by the carjack gang after taking his Land Cruiser. Arsenio said this was not the first time that a witness against the Dominguez brothers was murdered. Another witness, Cristina Rojas, was earlier gunned down shortly after attending a court hearing in Malolos City, he said. Witness protection   Meanwhile, Arsenio questioned the WPP of the government. "Star witness mo, because hindi competent ang WPP, biglang makakawala (ang witness) tapos a few hours malalaman natin patay na. Anong implication nito, incompetent sila?" Arsenio asked. Arsenio said this was not the first time that Mendiola ran into trouble since becoming a star witness against the Dominguez brothers. "Last year nagpunta sila sa restaurant chain after attending a hearing sa Quezon City, biglang nawala, buti narecover siya," Arsenio said.   Arsenio said Mendiola had preferred to be detained at the Malolos Jail in Bulacan but was returned to WPP custody after new intelligence reports indicated he was at risk.   Before Mendiola died, he had made over 30 pages of testimonies before the court.   The court had scheduled two hearings a month on the case of Arsenio's son Venson. - with Mark Merueñas/VVP/RSJ, GMA News