A lawyer for the Dominguez brothers yesterday insinuated that Alfred Mendiola allegedly demanded P5 million from his clients in exchange for not testifying in the Venson Evangelista case.
However, Mendiola, who earlier tagged the Dominguezes as the masterminds in the killing of the car dealer, bluntly replied, “No” when lawyer Oscar Raro asked him if he ever asked for money from the alleged leaders of the Dominguez car theft gang.
“If I were to ask for money from them, I would ask for a higher amount,” Mendiola added as he was cross examined by the defense lawyer before Judge Ma. Luisa Q. Padilla of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 215.
In response to another question from Raro, Mendiola said he would agree to the playing in court of a recording of his alleged extortion attempt.
But in an interview with reporters outside the courtroom, Raro clarified that he did not say that there was such a recording.
He said he only wanted to know if Mendiola was willing to have it played in court—if there was one.
According to him, a relative of the Dominguezes told him about Mendiola’s attempt to extort money from his clients.
“Allegedly, Mendiola asked for P5 million or else the brothers would be implicated [in the killing of Evangelista],” Raro told reporters.
It was unclear, however, if the demand was relayed to the Dominguezes as the lawyer said he had “no personal knowledge” of the reported extortion attempt.
Roger and Raymond Dominguezes are charged with the kidnapping and killing of Evangelista earlier this year. Also facing charges are Mendiola and Jayson Miranda.
Although named as one of the accused, Mendiola is being eyed as a state witness after the Department of Justice admitted him into its Witness Protection Security and Benefit Program.
The court, however, had ordered the prosecution to present him in court first before it decides whether or not to make him a state witness.