PAO chief backs call to put witnesses in Kian slay under WPP

Persida Rueda Acosta —Arnold Almacen

Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief Persida Rueda-Acosta has supported the position of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II that the witnesses in the killing of 17-year-old Kian Loyd Delos Santos should be placed under the government’s Witness Protection Program (WPP) .

Acosta, who is providing legal assistance to Kian’s family, asked Senator Risa Hontiveros to surrender the custody of the three eyewitnesses.

Hontiveros has the custody of the three witnesses following her visit to Kian’s wake over the weekend.

“Senator Risa should now turn over their custody to the DOJ and NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) because the Delos Santos family has chosen our office to handle their case,” she said Thursday.

Acosta pointed out that the senator’s custody of the witnesses is only temporary.

“The family of these witnesses initially sought her help, but the parents of the minors have already decided to recall the custody of the witnesses from the senator,” she added.

The witnesses under the senator’s custody are aged 13, 16 and 31.

Acosta said they have the fourth witness in their custody.

“We will apply for WPP coverage of the witness after the filing of the complaint for murder before the DOJ (Friday),” she said.

Aguirre earlier said that they would be willing to consider admitting the witnesses and Kian’s family to the WPP if they will apply.