Revilla slay trial: Witness falters during cross-examination

MANILA, Philippines - Defense lawyers picked apart yesterday the testimony given by witness Ruel Puzon in court, citing differences between the account he gave in court of the events leading to the murder of actor Ram Revilla and the two affidavits he had submitted to the police.

Puzon’s affidavits led to the identification and arrest of the suspects last year. The discrepancies in the affidavits and his testimony last June 5 prompted Judge Fortunito Madrona to ask Puzon during yesterday’s hearing, “Are you sure you’re not making up these stories?”

Lawyer Melinda Salcedo pointed out that in Puzon’s sworn affidavit to the police, he said accused gunman Michael Nartea and accused middleman Ryan Pastera accompanied him to Revilla’s house in BF Homes Parañaque on Oct. 17, 2011.

Puzon said they never alighted from the Toyota Innova, which they used to enter the subdivision, while casing the house, according to Salcedo, Pastera’s lawyer.

But in his court testimony, Puzon said he was with Pastera and another accused middleman Norween de la Cruz – not Nartea – when they conducted the surveillance. He also said they alighted from the van and entered the house using the garage gate.

When Salcedo asked which of the two statements were true, Puzon said it was his testimony in court.

According to Puzon, he was hired to kill Revilla after Nartea’s original companion and now co-accused Roy Francis Tolisora failed to kill the actor on Oct. 11, 2011.

Puzon said he was approached by Pastera, Nartea, De la Cruz and his girlfriend, Glaiza Visda, on Oct. 12, 2011.

Two days later, he allegedly met Pastera and Revilla’s brother, Ramon Joseph, for the P19,000 they will use to get a gun.

Madrona asked Puzon whether he agreed to do the job. Puzon said no, but admitted to meeting Pastera’s group again on Oct. 17 and 19, 2011.

Puzon also told the judge that he was asked by the group to drive the motorcycle for Nartea, who was tasked to shoot Revilla.

“What did you tell them?” Madrona asked Puzon.

“I never gave them any answer. I never said no, I never said yes,” Puzon said, adding that he and Nartea did not want to kill Revilla. “We will just take the money.”

He added that the group originally planned to kill Revilla on Oct. 17, 2011 but did not push through. It was also the same day, according to Puzon, that he and the group cased Revilla’s house.

Puzon said the group never contacted him again after Oct. 19, 2011 when he and Nartea pretended that the latter, who has a criminal record, was arrested by the police.

After Puzon answered, Madrona asked him if his story was not fabricated. Puzon said: “No, I was really there during the planning.” He added that only P15,000 out of the P500,000 reward money was given to him by the police.

Genelyn Magsasay, mother of Revilla and Ramon Joseph, was elated after hearing Madrona ask the question. She clasped her hands and said, “The power of prayer is really effective.”