Comelec source says missing witness escaped

Manila, Philippines -  A missing witness in the electoral sabotage case against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo took off for fear of his life, a source at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said yesterday.

“We got an intelligence information that he went into hiding because he was fearing for his life,” the source said.

“There were people who were asking him to change his statement so he decided to leave.”

Last Thursday, the Comelec had announced that Russam Mabang, acting election officer in Pandag, Maguindanao in the 2007 polls, went missing Wednesday night.

The Comelec was supposed to present Mabang as one of the two last witnesses in Arroyo’s bail hearing at the Pasay City regional trial court last Thursday. 

The other witness is former Maguindanao provincial administrator Norie Unas.

Since the two witnesses did not show up during the hearing, the court closed the Comelec’s presentation of witnesses.

Mabang’s wife told the Comelec he had decided to hide.

The source said the Comelec might withdraw Mabang as a witness but he must explain to the court why he disappeared.

“He has to tell the court that he failed to appear during the hearing because of his own doing,” the source said. “The Comelec has nothing to do with it. We’ll be seeking a warrant for him.”

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said the case will remain strong despite Mabang’s disappearance.

“The main and principal witness is Unas,” he said.

Brillantes said Mabang would have just corroborated the statements of 10 other witnesses that the Comelec had presented.

These witnesses are composed of election officers and election assistants in Maguindanao in 2007, he added.

Brillantes suspects that Mabang was harassed to frighten Unas and keep him from testifying.

“Mabang and other witnesses are all in collaboration with the main testimony of Unas,” he said.

“(They will tell the) step-by-step process on how cheating was done in 2007. Finale would have been Unas. These witnesses are what happened in Maguindanao, but the one that will link GMA is Unas.

“Unas is the sole witness that can pin the former president. The materiality of Mabang’s statement is simply collaborative.”