Leviste breaks down on witness stand
Former Batangas governor Jose Antonio Leviste testified in court yesterday that he only acted in self-defense when he shot his business associate Rafael de las Alas several times in his office in
The 68-year-old Leviste broke down while narrating the events that led him to shoot De las Alas on
Leviste claimed that prior to the heated conversation with De las Alas, the latter came up to him and requested additional financial compensation, saying he needed it badly because he was maintaining two mistresses.
De las Alas later submitted to Leviste’s office a formal letter, which indicated his request for P1 million to be given in a period of 20 months. This meant an additional P50,000 would be deposited monthly in De las Alas’ payroll account, which should have taken effect starting January last year.
Leviste also recalled that the night before the shooting, a meeting was held in their office.
“I then announced that I am approving De las Alas’ request and that I also have plans of implementing a reorganization of employees at the Jose Antonio Leviste Company Inc. (JALCO),” he said. JALCO is reportedly engaged in the realty business.
However, De las Alas reportedly opposed Leviste’s plan to assume some of his tasks, including that of supervising JALCO employees. Leviste told De las Alas they can continue the discussion the following day,
The next morning, Leviste said he was in his office when he saw De las Alas pass by. He had his aide summoned.
Leviste told the court that he asked De las Alas what was wrong, but the latter said Leviste was just fooling him and demanded that the P1 million be given to him right away.
Leviste claimed that De las Alas showed him a gun tucked in his waistband. He said still tried to talk patiently to De las Alas but saw that the latter was about to draw his gun.
“I feared for my life so that in an instant, I took my gun, a Walther PPK pistol, (from) inside the drawer in my table and shot him. But I saw that he was still able to raise his left arm and thinking he might still fire back, I stood up, stepped aside and fired at him several times,” he said, sobbing.
Leviste said the incident happened only in a matter of seconds. “It was when I saw him (De las Alas) slumped on his seat that I felt dizzy, nauseated and left the room. I ordered one of my personnel to bring me to the
Leviste stressed that the incident has been the saddest episode in his life. “I don’t know how and why it happened. I have never thought of killing him.”
He said that this is the very first time that he talked about the incident. The former local official likewise said he did not extend an apology to De las Alas’ family since he did not do anything wrong.
“Maybe it would be better if I was the one who died so things would not have gone this far and my children would not be affected,” he said.
Leviste said he believes that the truth will be known in the end.
Meanwhile, the prosecution panel, led by Senior State Prosecutor Emmanuel Velasco, argued that what Leviste said in his testimony are all “fabricated lies.”
“It was found out that the victim’s gun, a 9mm Smith and Wesson, was safely locked while they were engaged in an argument. And the alleged letter of the victim, why is it that they only showed it in court just now?” Velasco said after the hearing.
He said the killing was premeditated and believes they have a strong case against Leviste.
“It is unnatural for one person to fire at his target several times if it was indeed self-defense,” Velasco pointed out.
Velasco said Leviste had been asking something from De las Alas, and became angry when the victim could not grant it.
Earlier, during the cross examination of Leviste, Velasco said there were matters concerning the registration of land titles that were reportedly handled by De las
Dina de las Alas, who is still grieving over her father’s death, said Leviste had no right to take her father’s life.
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