Venson's pa: Witness statement trumps carjacker's claim

MANILA, Philippines - Despite an apology issued by self-confessed carjacker Rolando Talban, the father of slain car dealer Venson Evangelista still believes the testimony left behind by state witness Alfred Mendiola, who was himself killed last May.

“It’s his (Talban’s) words against those of a dead man,” Arsenio Evangelista told reporters in an interview on Monday afternoon, following his eventful face-to-face meeting with the man accused of killing his son.

Arsenio said the alleged gunman must have heard of Mendiola’s claims from media reports and could have prepared to counter them.

Mendiola, who admitted to pretending to be a buyer of the sport utility vehicle that Evangelista was selling when he was kidnapped, identified Talban – working under “carjack kings” Raymond and Roger Dominguez – as the man who shot Evangelista. He even claimed it was Talban who suggested to the brothers that the car dealer should be killed.

Talban and the Dominguez brothers are facing car theft with homicide charges before a Quezon City court.

Another version

In his account, Talban claimed his only participation in the crime was wrapping Evangelista’s head with packaging tape. According to Arsenio, Talban tagged the Dominguez brothers as the masterminds, Mendiola as the one who suggested that Evangelista be killed, and Joel Jacinto as the man who shot the victim.

He also said Mendiola was the one who ordered him to buy gasoline to burn Evangelista’s body, and that Jayson Miranda, another suspect arrested last year, was the one who burned the body.

After more than a year in hiding, Talban was arrested last week in Dasmarinas, Cavite following an attempted hijacking.

Upon police interrogation, Talban described himself as “formerly affiliated with the Dominguez carjack syndicate.” Talban also told police that Jacinto was with him during the attempted truck hijacking but managed to evade arrest.

Overjoyed

Arsenio learned of the arrest Friday night as he was eating dinner at a mall. Overjoyed by the latest development, he could barely sleep as he prayed over the weekend to give thanks for the news. 

On Monday morning, Arsenio drove to Camp Vicente Lim in Laguna to see Talban in person.

“I was calm. There was no anger. I only wanted him to see my son’s pictures to see if Talban had any conscience in him left,” the elder Evangelista said.

Arsenio said Talban claimed he feared for his life and that he might be killed next.

“At one point, I pitied him. Because he is also a victim of circumstance, that’s why he ended up with this kind of life,” Arsenio said.

But when asked if he believed Talban’s claims that he was not the gunman in the killing, the still grieving father bluntly said: “No.”

“He is a professional. He had been in jail several times and had been in the business for a long time. He can transform into a meek creature and back to who he really is,” Arsenio said.

“I forgive them, yes, but the law of man must prevail. They must still undergo court proceedings,” he added.

Mendiola also identified Talban as the man who killed car dealer Emerson Lozano and his companion, Ernani Sensil. Another witness pointed to Talban as the man who shot Teresita Teaño during a carjacking in June 2011.