Another witness claims he recognized Jojo killer

Another witness to the murder of Bantay Dagat executive director Elpidio "Jojo" Dela Victoria said he recognized the face of accused Marcial Ocampo because the hat he was wearing was slightly removed when he disembarked from a tricycle after the shooting.

Evan Echavez, 35, the fourth prosecution witness presented yesterday before Regional Trial Court Judge Ireneo Lee Gako Jr., said he clearly saw the face of Ocampo because he was only half a meter away from him.

It was Echavez who prevented the tricycle from leaving when Ocampo quickly boarded the vehicle after he allegedly shot Dela Victoria in sitio Dawis, barangay San Roque, Talisay City on April 12.

Echavez said he did not forget the moment when Ocampo poked a .45 caliber pistol at his stomach.

"Kulatahon g'yod unta nako siya kay ang migukod niya nagsigi man og singgit nga kawatan, kawatan," Echavez narrated, adding, "pagtan-aw nako may armas man, peligro kay bata pa ang akong asawa."

During the direct examination, Echavez said that while he was at the corner of Ramona Village, he observed a suspicious motorcycle-riding man inquire at a store about the commodities being sold.

The man never left the place until after the white multicab driven by Dela Victoria passed by the place. Echavez said the man then followed the multicab in a distance.

"Nagtuo ko nga mora'g naniid ba," said Echavez, who testified in a loud and clear voice. He even went down from the witness stand twice to demonstrate to the judge what he had observed.

Echavez pinpointed Ocampo, who was already wearing the orange T-shirt for prisoners, as the person they chased for shooting Dela Victoria but who was able to flee onboard a taxicab.

Gako instructed Echavez to appear during the trial's continuation on Friday so private prosecutors Rameses Villagonzalo and Fritz V. Quiñanola could continue their direct examination.

After Gako adjourned the trial at 5 p.m., a trouble nearly erupted when one of Ocampo's supporters told Dela Victoria's group: "Makonsensya sab mo uy, ipapriso ninyo ang walay sala."

Dela Victoria's group quickly reacted, but cooler heads intervened. - Rene U. Borromeo