Cory shows interest in new evidence on Ninoy’s murder

Former President Corazon Aquino has expressed interest in new evidence regarding the murder of her husband, former senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., over 21 years ago.

Yesterday, Mrs. Aquino sent lawyer Rene Saguisag, who has represented her since 1983, to the Public Attorney’s Office in Quezon City to personally examine recent forensic findings and testimonies of new witnesses that were submitted to the Supreme Court when PAO filed a motion to reopen the case.

"Just like everyone else, we want to know the truth. We all want justice for Ninoy," Saguisag told reporters, speaking not only for the former president but for Reps. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III of Tarlac and Agapito Aquino of Makati City as well.

Holding three thick volumes of documents, Saguisag said he would need time to study the findings and testimonies "along with those people whose opinions I would have to seek because I am not familiar with the technical aspect."

He said that after closely examining the PAO documents, he is tasked to give the Aquino family his recommendation. However, he refused to reveal which specific issues were highlighted.

Saguisag said he was given an overview of the findings and testimonies by Chief Public Attorney Persida Rueda-Acosta and four forensic experts who spent three months with the evidence before coming to the conclusion that Aquino was shot on the airport tarmac by Rolando Galman, who was also shot dead.

The military claimed Galman was a communist hit man.

"I heard fascinating insights but it’s too early to issue judgment. We have to carefully examine every detail in these documents," Saguisag said. "We will give this the attention we think it deserves but in the end, everything is up to the family."

He added that he would try to come up with the recommendation "as soon as possible and in less than a month, for sure."

Saguisag refused to discuss the issue of who masterminded the killing, even though PAO unearthed a new witness who reportedly identified the mastermind in an affidavit submitted to the SC.

All 15 soldiers detailed to escort Aquino were sent to jail after they refused to identify the mastermind despite the offer by Mrs. Aquino, who was president at the time, to spare them if they did so.

The new witness implicated the same person — a business tycoon and close relative of the former president — believed by the soldiers to be the mastermind.

As for the gunman, the PAO is using as its key witness Senior Police Officer 1 Ruben Cantimbuhan, who claimed he saw Galman shoot Aquino. Cantimbuhan was the driver of the police van used to transfer Aquino’s body to Fort Bonifacio.

The convicted soldiers in the Aquino-Galman murder case are: former captain Romeo Bautista; former second lieutenant Jesus Castro; former master sergeant Pablo Martinez; former sergeants Claro Lat, Arnulfo de Mesa, Filomendo Miranda, Rolando de Guzman, Ernesto Mateo, Rodolfo Desolong, Ruben Aquino, and Arnulfo Artates; former constable first-class Rogelio Moreno; former airmen first-class Cordova Estelo, Felizardo Taran, and Mario Lazaga.