Only death will stop witness vs Boratong

The killing of his uncle will not stop him from continuing to testify against his former boss, alleged Pasig City shabu "tiangge" operator Amin Imam Boratong, a government witness said yesterday.

The witness, Samer Palao, said nobody can stop him from revealing what he knew of the shabu flea market to stop Boratong’s illegal drugs business.

"The drug syndicate of Boratong sent a strong signal that whoever tried to work for me would be dealt with accordingly," said Palao in the native dialect. "My death would only stop me from testifying."

The uncle of Palao’s wife, Glicerio Bahande, 47, was visiting last Sunday Palao’s house in barangay Sto. Tomas when he was gunned down by assassins identified only as Along, a policeman and a certain Macmac.

Bahande’s killing came three days after Palao testified in court that Boratong is keeping at his disposal at least four "hired killers" to execute his competitors and drug pushers who incurring huge debts in his drug organization.

Palao named Boratong’s "hitmen" as Police Officer 2 Ramil Along; Nasser Labay, alias Buenas; Mangontawa Sultan, alias MacMac;, and Pangkatan Sultan, alias Boy Negro. MacMac is the younger brother of Boratong’s wife, Mimie, according to Palao.

In the same court hearing, Palao also said the proceeds of Boratong’s drug peddling business were used to purchase lots in the slum area in barangay Sto. Tomas where at least eight houses were constructed.

Palao strongly believes his uncle was killed because Boratong’s camp suspected Bahande of spying for him. "He was killed also to prevent others from following my example and not to feed information to me regarding their illegal activities," he said.

As of yesterday, Palao said Bahande’s body is in a funeral parlor in Pasig City and their "relatives are afraid to claim his body for fear that the camp of Boratong would carry out their threat to also silence them."

Palao said the suspects are still in Pasig City but the police seemed uninterested in arresting them.

Pasig City police chief Senior Superintendent Francisco Uyami Jr.said they are still investigating Bahande’s death. "We have no solid evidence yet against the suspects. Nobody dared to come out to testify against them," Uyami told The STAR.

He said they have not yet confirmed that the suspects in Bahande’s slaying were also the ones mentioned by Palao during the court hearing. — Non Alquitran