Shabu tiangge witness not credible, says trader
October 11, 2006 | 12:00am
Government witness Samer Palao faces a string of criminal cases and should not be taken seriously by police probers, according to trader Amin Imam Boratong, whom the former accused of operating the dismantled shabu "tiangge" in Pasig City.
Boratong said the latest case against Palao was the July 6 kidnap and murder of his brother-in-law, identified as Cadar Hadji Salam, in Lumba Bayabao, Lanao del Sur.
‘"He killed an innocent man without reason and an iota of provocation," the trader said.
In his e-mail, Boratong said Palao was convicted in 2004 by the Pasig City Regional Trial Court for a drug charge. He is now under probation.
That same year, Palao masterminded the killing of a policeman in Marikina City and is now being tried in the court of the said city.
Palao is also wanted for frustrated murder before the RTC of Digos in Davao del Sur, the trader claimed.
Boratong claimed Palao’ s revelations were all lies, noting that from the start, the government witness kept from his police handlers his true identity.
Earlier, Palao claimed he and Boratong were born to poor parents in Lumba Bayabao town. They were neighbors, he said.
"Pero ang pagkaalam nila sa Pasig City magkapatid kami ni Amin," said the witness, who claimed he was the right-hand man of Boratong in his drug peddling operation.
Boratong claimed Palao is his elder brother.
"His real name is Magandama I. Boratong. He changed his name to Samer Palao when in 1991, he applied for a job as security guard with the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) in Cotabato City," Boratong said in his e-mail.
In a five-page statement to investigators of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) last Sept. 21, Palao identified himself as Samirmaniri Palao, 37.
The Muslim trader also accused Palao of converting his lot on F. Soriano street, Sitio Mapayapa into a drug compound, which was raided by government agents last Feb. 10.
Boratong said Palao made up the story about his alleged drug peddling activities after he suspected the businessman and his wife of tipping off police about the drug tiangge.
He said Palao had demanded P5 million from them for losses arising from the shutting down of his drug business.
Boratong refused, insisting he had nothing to do with the raid.
The trader claimed Palao then kidnapped Salam, his wife’s brother, and demanded P5 million.
"For our failure to pay the ransom, Samer made true his threat and killed Cadar, my brother-in-law," Boratong said.
Palao was charged with kidnapping with murder in Marawi City.
Boratong also criticized the government witness for dragging the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) into the picture by saying the group had received funds from him.
"The undersigned, whom you may describe as relatively well-off, most often than not is the first person in our community to be approached and asked for help," he said.
Boratong said he expects Palao to throw more dirt at him.
"To date, we are fighting this legal battle against a calculated savage and vicious attack coming from Mr. Samer Palao, and we truly believe that one day we will attain justice," he added.
Boratong said the latest case against Palao was the July 6 kidnap and murder of his brother-in-law, identified as Cadar Hadji Salam, in Lumba Bayabao, Lanao del Sur.
‘"He killed an innocent man without reason and an iota of provocation," the trader said.
In his e-mail, Boratong said Palao was convicted in 2004 by the Pasig City Regional Trial Court for a drug charge. He is now under probation.
That same year, Palao masterminded the killing of a policeman in Marikina City and is now being tried in the court of the said city.
Palao is also wanted for frustrated murder before the RTC of Digos in Davao del Sur, the trader claimed.
Boratong claimed Palao’ s revelations were all lies, noting that from the start, the government witness kept from his police handlers his true identity.
Earlier, Palao claimed he and Boratong were born to poor parents in Lumba Bayabao town. They were neighbors, he said.
"Pero ang pagkaalam nila sa Pasig City magkapatid kami ni Amin," said the witness, who claimed he was the right-hand man of Boratong in his drug peddling operation.
Boratong claimed Palao is his elder brother.
"His real name is Magandama I. Boratong. He changed his name to Samer Palao when in 1991, he applied for a job as security guard with the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) in Cotabato City," Boratong said in his e-mail.
In a five-page statement to investigators of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) last Sept. 21, Palao identified himself as Samirmaniri Palao, 37.
The Muslim trader also accused Palao of converting his lot on F. Soriano street, Sitio Mapayapa into a drug compound, which was raided by government agents last Feb. 10.
Boratong said Palao made up the story about his alleged drug peddling activities after he suspected the businessman and his wife of tipping off police about the drug tiangge.
He said Palao had demanded P5 million from them for losses arising from the shutting down of his drug business.
Boratong refused, insisting he had nothing to do with the raid.
The trader claimed Palao then kidnapped Salam, his wife’s brother, and demanded P5 million.
"For our failure to pay the ransom, Samer made true his threat and killed Cadar, my brother-in-law," Boratong said.
Palao was charged with kidnapping with murder in Marawi City.
Boratong also criticized the government witness for dragging the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) into the picture by saying the group had received funds from him.
"The undersigned, whom you may describe as relatively well-off, most often than not is the first person in our community to be approached and asked for help," he said.
Boratong said he expects Palao to throw more dirt at him.
"To date, we are fighting this legal battle against a calculated savage and vicious attack coming from Mr. Samer Palao, and we truly believe that one day we will attain justice," he added.
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