Accused admit taking P120T to kill journalist

Three of the four accused in the murder of Tacurong City-based journalist Marlene Esperat admitted that they were paid P120,000 for the job.

Istanislao Bismanos, Randy Grecia and Gerry Cabayag confirmed the testimony of co-accused - Army sergeant Rowie Barua - that they were paid to kill Esperat.

Barua, in yesterday's continuation of his direct testimony, said that he was ordered by Estrella Sabay, chief accountant of the Department of Agriculture in Region 12, to contact a gun-for-hire sometime in January last year.

Barua said he met Bismanos, a childhood friend, when he went home to barangay Kapayawi in Libungan, Cotabato to attend the barangay anniversary. Barua said he contracted Bismanos upon order of Sabay.

On February 28, 2005, Barua said Osmeña Montañer, chief finance officer of DA-12, went inside the office of Sabay with a brown envelope containing P5,000 and picture of Esperat with her home address. Barua said he was then ordered by Sabay to give it to Bismanos.

The money was used for the surveillance activity, which lasted for almost a month, before they finally got Esperat on March 24, 2005.

Barua said after the surveillance, Bismanos called him to tell his "boss", Sabay, that P120,000 would be enough for the job, excluding the P5,000 he already received. On March 3, 2005, Barua said Bismanos informed him that they would already start the job.

He immediately met with Bismanos and two other persons whom he did not know. Bismanos demanded half of the P120,000 as down payment.

Barua said after he delivered the P60,000, Bismanos gave him P4,500.

After Esperat was killed, Barua said he delivered the remaining P60,000 to Bismanos and his companions whom he already knew as Cabayag and Grecia. Barua said he was then given P3,500 by Bismanos.

The three admitted Barua's claim in a media interview after the hearing yesterday. Bismanos said Barua's testimony was true, but they find it unfair that he is not detained with them at the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center.

Barua is under the custody of the Department of Justice because he was admitted to the witness protection program. Bismanos said Barua should have been detained with them because they were all involved in the crime.

Bismanos added that the masterminds should also be taken to court, adding that he was forced to accept the job because of financial problem. According to him, his father was sick and he needed money then for the children's graduation.

Further, Bismanos said that had he been informed that Esperat was a journalist, he would not have accepted the job. "Kon nahibawo pa ko nga (taga) media (si Esperat), dili na matrabaho," Bismanos said.

Bismanos explained that he used to be a bodyguard of a certain Ali Macabalang, a media personality in Mindanao.

The court will continue hearing the direct testimony of Barua this afternoon. - Fred P. Languido