2nd witness in Pique kidnap-slay testifies

CEBU, Philippines - The prosecution team presented their second witness in relation to the kidnap-slay of six-year-old Ellah Joy Pique last Feb. 8, 2011.

But while tricycle driver Nemecio Sedenio, 52, testified before the court that he saw a girl get into a Pajero after leaving the Calajo-an Elementary School in Minglanilla town, he was not sure if the girl was Pique.

Lawyer Inocencio dela Cerna, who did the direct examination of Sedenio, said the testimony of the latter will prove that a schoolgirl was kidnapped on Feb. 8, 2011.

Sedenio said in his testimony that on the same date at 4 p.m. while waiting for the passengers he saw a Pajero with a Filipina and Caucasian man inside about 11 feet from where he was.

He added he saw a schoolgirl from the Calajo-an Elementary School boarding the Pajero.

Sedenio said while he looked for passengers, he noticed the Pajero leaving. He added he did not take down the plate number of the vehicle.

During the cross-examination, Sedenio told defense counsel Rameses Villagonzalo that he was picked from their house by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to narrate what he saw on Feb. 8.

He added prior to the incident he never knew the Pique family.

When asked by Villagonzalo why he executed an affidavit, he said the police knew that he was in the area when Pique boarded the Pajero.

He added he only knew that Ellah Joy was missing when his wife told him that there was a man looking for his daughter.

Dela Cerna, in an interview, said the defense counsel was not able to destroy the testimony of the witness during the cross examination.

The father of the victim, Renante Pique said he was satisfied with the testimony of the witness.

“Okay kaayo iyang gi-testify kay nitakdo sa unang witness,” he said. (FREEMAN)