Auditor’s family skeptical that killing will be solved

BAGUIO CITY — The family of slain Ilocos Sur auditor Agustin Chan Jr. expressed skepticism yesterday that his and his driver’s ambush-slaying will be solved, saying that the killing will just be one of the unsolved crimes the province is known for since the 70s.

"Baka wala ding mangyayari diyan (Nothing might come out of it, too)," said a sobbing Evelyn Chan, widow of the slain auditor.

She noted the admission of the Ilocos Sur police about the lack of witnesses to the ambush-slaying of her husband and his driver, Alex Regacho, last Thursday in Bantay, Ilocos Sur.

In other developments:

• Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate the killing of Chan who was set to testify as a defense witness in the Sandiganbayan trial of former President Joseph Estrada on plunder charges.

• The Ilocos Sur police have traced three cars with license plates bearing the number 118 — which the killers’ getaway car bore — but said their owners were "clean" and could not have possibly pulled off the crime.

Chan’s daughter Annalyn, 23, herself admitted that she doubts whether something will come out of the investigation into her father’s death.

Lawyer Abelardo Estrada, president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines’ Baguio-Benguet chapter, however, said that while he understands the feelings of Chan’s family, he will seek justice for their slain member.

"If the killers could cold-bloodedly slay a member of the Bar, this is a serious matter," he said, adding that he is set to dialogue with the IBP’s national leadership to map out their move.

Pimentel said it is necessary for the NBI to step into the case to remove doubts over the impartiality of the police probe.

He recalled that Chan testified last October before the Senate Blue Ribbon committee that he headed, on the alleged misuse of tobacco excise taxes running into hundreds of millions of pesos.

"During his testimony, Chan revealed a lot of information about alleged disbursement of funds by the provincial government of Ilocos Sur, particularly those related to the tobacco tax share of the government," he said.

Ilocos Sur was then headed by Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson, whose exposé on the alleged jueteng protection scheme of former President Estrada led to the latter’s downfall.

Pimentel cited reports that Chan was supposedly carrying with him documentary evidence of the alleged tobacco tax scam when he and his driver were ambushed.

He requested Commission on Audit chairman Guillermo Carague to take steps to preserve and protect all documents and records in the Ilocos Sur auditor’s office pertaining to alleged irregularities in the disbursement of the proceeds of tobacco excise taxes that Chan had extensively investigated.

He also urged the Sandiganbayan to order law enforcement authorities to provide security to both defense and prosecution witnesses in the Estrada plunder trial.

"I think not only prosecution witnesses but also defense witnesses should be entitled to security protection from our law enforcement agencies," he said.