Court allows Mendiola to stay in Bulacan jail

Manila, Philippines - A Quezon City court yesterday granted the request of a state witness in the murder of car dealer Venson Evangelista that he be allowed to stay at the Bulacan Provincial Jail for the duration of the trial.

In a hearing, Judge Maria Luisa Padilla of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 215 granted the request of Alfred Mendiola’s lawyer, Willie Rivera, that his client remain in the Bulacan Provincial Jail after having left the custody of the Department of Justice (DOJ) witness protection program.

Bulacan Provincial Jail warden, Director Pepito Flamenco, had assured the court they can protect Mendiola, who has his own room and guards to watch over him.

He added that Mendiola has to log in and out whenever he leaves his quarters and cannot leave the facility unless he has to attend a court hearing.

Martin Nuñez, acting director of the witness protection program, said they will continue to provide escorts to Mendiola to and from the court hearings.

Superintendent Winefredo Abordo, warden of the Metro Manila District Jail in Camp Bagong Diwa, said he has enough personnel to secure Mendiola. Currently detained in the MMDJ are the three accused in Evangelista’s murder – brothers Roger and Raymond Dominguez and Jayson Miranda.

However, Abordo said he could not assure Dominguez’s safety when the jail cells are open and detainees are given time to roam the facility while basking under the sun.

Nuñez pointed out to the court that Mendiola would be better protected in the Bulacan Provincial Jail since at the MMDJ, he might encounter the three accused and be unduly influenced.

On the other hand, Rivera said he no longer feels confident that Padilla should continue to try the case since she still considers Mendiola as one of the accused.

“The case should be transferred to another court,” said Rivera, who filed a motion asking Padilla inhibit herself from the case. He added he and state prosecutors have been pushing the court to immediately discharge Mendiola as a suspect.

Padilla said that she will release next week the resolution whether she will inhibit herself or not from hearing the case.