Star witness in slay of Infanta mayor missing

SAN CARLOS CITY, Pangasinan — Jestin Aquino, the 17-year-old star witness in the killing of Mayor Ruperto Martinez of Infanta, Pangasinan, in December last year has gone missing, his mother Ester told the media on Dec. 9.

“Hindi ko na nakita ang aking anak. Natatakot ako sa kalagayan niya at ngayon hindi nila masabi kung nasaan (I haven’t seen my son. I’m afraid for his condition because now they can’t even tell me where he is),” Ester said after trying to see his son at the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional Office in La Union.

It will be recalled that Jestin was taken into custody by the DSWD after escaping from police care in Camp Crame, Quezon City, last November 27, claiming that police guards were allegedly milking him of his Witness Protection Program (WPP) allowance.

The day after he escaped, Jestin was helped by a mediaman meet with Pangasinan Gov. Amado T. Espino Jr. and members of the Martinez family.

In these meetings, Jestin apologized for implicating Espino, Pangasinan 1st District Rep. Jesus “Boying” Celeste and his own father and local newsman Jaime Aquino, in the murder of Mayor Martinez.

At a press conference, Jestin said his sworn affidavit was a sham allegedly forced upon him by Espino’s political rival and former Alaminos City Mayor Hernani Braganza, Senior Superintendent Marlou Chan, Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPO) director, and a certain Atty. Pulido.

On Dec. 6, the Regional Trial Court Branch 57 in San Carlos City was expecting the DSWD Region 1 Office to present Jestin upon issuance of a writ of amparo – a legal remedy for the protection of constitutional rights of the witness.

However, Atty. Marilyn Hidalgo who represented the DSWD Region 1 Office informed the judge that Jestin was under the custody of the DSWD-National Capital Region and that “it would be impossible to bring the child” before the court.

Judge Renato Pinlac did not accept the explanation, saying “The DSWD disobeyed the order of the court to bring the child in court.”