3 persons of interest in Aparri VM Almeda slay case won't take lie detector test

Three persons of interest in the killing of Aparri, Cagayan Vice Mayor Rommel Alameda changed their previous decision to take a lie detector test before the Senate public order and dangerous drugs committee.

During the continuation of the committee's probe into Alameda’s killing, Dennis De Guzman, Freddie Molina, and Rommel Paltao told the panel that they are withdrawing their initial decision to accept Senator Raffy Tulfo’s challenge to take the lie detector test.

The three are connected to Aparri, Cagayan Mayor Bryan Dale Chan who is also among the persons of interest in Alameda’s death.

According to the three, they changed their decision due to the advice of their legal counsels.

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who presided over the hearing, was surprised about their changing of hearts and warned them that this decision might prompt the public to think that they were really involved in Alameda’s killing.

“Alam mo, ‘yang ginagawa mong ‘yan, lalong magdududa ang taumbayan sa inyo, na may tinatago ka talaga, may kinalaman ka talaga sa krimen na ito dahil ‘yun nga ayaw mo magpa-lie detector e. Nag-volunteer ka. Ngayon, binawi mo na. Ayaw mo na,” Dela Rosa said.

(You know, what you are doing will lead the public to doubt and think that you are hiding something and have a role in the crime because you don't want to undergo a lie detector test. You volunteered [to take the test]. Now you are backing out. You don't want to proceed anymore.)

“Anyway, it’s your right pero public perception, sabihin ng taumbayan, may tinatago ito…We respect your right. Constitutional right mo 'yan kung ayaw mo magpa-undergo pero iba ang dating sa committee na ito,” he added.

(Anyway, it's your right, but public perception, the public may think you are hiding something... We respect your right. That is your constitutional right if you do not want to undergo [a lie detector test] but it comes across as a different thing to this committee.)

Dela Rosa also told the legal counsel of Chan that it would be better if the three would take the lie detector test to prove that the mayor’s  group is innocent.

“Alam niyo mga abogado ni mayor, kung talagang deep inside your heart alam niyo na inosente ‘yung grupo ni mayor, inosente talaga sila, alam mo mas maganda on your part na magpa-lie detector test sila kasi nag-volunteer naman sila,” Dela Rosa said.

(You know what, lawyers of mayor, if deep in your heart you know that the mayor's group is innocent, it would be better on your part to have them undergo lie detector test because they already volunteered to do so.)

Alameda and five others were killed when their van was ambushed by gunmen in Nueva Vizcaya on February 19.

The incident occurred in Sitio Kinacao, Barangay Beretbet in the municipality of Bagabag, Police Major Oscar Abrogena, police chief of Bagabag, said.

An initial investigation showed the victims were aboard a Starex van on the way to Manila when more or less six suspects fired at them, Abrogena said.

The other victims in the ambush were Alexander Agustin Delos Angeles, Alvin Dela Cruz Abel, Abraham Dela Cruz Ramos, John Duane Banag Almeda, and Ismael Nanay. —KG, GMA Integrated News