2 defense witnesses do not want to testify

After presenting its last witness yesterday, the defense in the attempted murder case of broadcaster Cersi "Choi" Torralba manifested that it was supposed to present two other witnesses, but they refused to receive the subpoenas.

This was what defense lawyer Rolando Quimbo told Regional Trial Court Branch 12 presiding judge Eric Menchavez after the cross-examination of John Lloyd Ortiz by prosecution lawyer Adelino Sitoy.

Quimbo wanted to put on record that the two witnesses, whom he said could corroborate the other witness' testimony that two gunmen shot broadcaster Torralba, refused to receive the subpoenas issued by the court.

Torralba had alleged that Ortiz was alone when he tried to kill him on June 8 last year.

Meanwhile, Ortiz admitted for the first time that he has now a two-month-old daughter with his girlfriend, Yvonne Ygbuhay, but he denied reports that he tried to kill Torralba out of jealousy.

Ortiz maintained that he never got jealous with Torralba even if he found out that the radioman and his girlfriend became close when she worked for Torralba during the vice presidential campaign of Loren Legarda.

When asked by Sitoy if he was a drinking buddy of Bernard Casugod, the defense witness, Ortiz said it was only his uncle who was close to the witness and that he only bought them drinks every time they had a drinking spree. Ortiz's uncle was the sponsor in Casugod's wedding.

"I am not a drinking buddy of Casugod. I only buy beer for them," Ortiz said in the vernacular.

Casugod testified earlier this month that he saw two men shoot Torralba during the incident and that no one of them resembled Ortiz.

Quimbo raised objection when Sitoy asked why Casugod's name was not included in Ortiz's counter-affidavit, which was executed in August 2004, saying that Sitoy should not touch that part since Casugod's name was not included during the direct examination.

Menchavez sustained Quimbo's objection, but Sitoy explained that Casugod was not included in the suspect's counter-affidavit despite being the defense's vital witness. - Liv G. Campo