Orate son denies dad held Daza kin hostage
By Dharel Placido, ABS-CBNNews.com
Posted at 02/13/2012 11:30 AM | Updated as of 02/13/2012 11:42 AM
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MANILA, Philippines – The son of the slain boyfriend of former Quezon City Rep. Nanette Castelo Daza denied a claim that his father held hostage Bulacan board member Allan Robes.
Noel Orate Jr., son of Daza’s former boyfriend Noel Orate Sr., believes that his father was deliberately killed inside Daza’s house in Quezon City on Friday evening, amid claims by Robes, the primary suspect in the killing, that he acted in self-defense.
Robes is Daza’s son-in-law. He is married to Daza’s daughter Councilor Jessica Castelo Daza.
Orate Jr. said various circumstances would prove that the hostage claim was made up by Robes’ camp.
“Malabo hong mangyari iyon, dahil based sa facts na hawak namin, paano magiging hostage crisis iyon, eh ang baril niya nakasafety hook. Kung mangho-hostage ka ng tao, itututok mo sa tao, naka-safety? Tapos ang bala ho, kumpleto pa ho, 14 bullets,” Orate Jr. told dzMM.
“Pumunta daw ang daddy ko doon ng lasing, pagkatapos uninvited ho. Kung lasing po ang aking ama, bakit niya naiparada ang kotse ng maayos? Nakikita sa mga litrato na maayos ang pagkakaparada,” he added.
Orate Jr. noted that tight security in the village and in the Daza household would prove that his father did not force his entry into the house.
“Sa kanto pa lang may security detail na. Sa may gate, may security, and the only way to get inside the house eh magsasabi ang security sa loob. Kasi there is no way na mabuksan ang gate sa labas,” Orate Jr. said.
“Wala pong forced entry na naganap. Kung ayaw nilang papasukin ang aking ama, bakit nakalusot siya dire-deretso?”
Self-defense
Orate Sr. sustained 5 gunshot wounds on the chest. Robes said he shot Orate Sr. out of self-defense.
Orate Jr., however, dispelled claims that Robes acted on self-defense, based on the number and location of the gunshot wounds.
“Kung self-defense ang unang instinct puputok ka ng isa o dalawa para i-disable ang tao. Pagkatapos, kung mapapansin niyo, makikita niyo na close proximity… Tsaka lima po yung tama ng aking ama, puro po diibdib iyon,” Orate Jr. said.
Orate Jr. also said he was puzzled why Daza later called his grandparents in the United States and said that his father committed suicide.
“Sabi po ni [Ex-Representative Daza] ‘Noel committed sucide. Tapos ngayon sinasabi nila hostage crisis,” Orate Jr. said.
Motive
Orate Jr. said he does not know what may have pushed Robes to shoot his father.
“Regarding sa intention, hindi ko po masabi. Everything is blank for me. I can only speak for my family,” he said.
He noted that Robes and his wife, Jessica, had invited his father to their wedding.
Homicide charges were filed against the suspect Robes during the inquest proceedings at the Quezon Regional Trial Court on Saturday.
Orate’s son expressed dismay over the decision, as they were expecting that murder charges will be filed against the suspect.
Family seeks help
Orate Jr. is seeking help that his family be protected from the supposedly powerful Daza clan during his family’s legal battle with the family of politicians.
“Ang aming pamilya ay isang ordinaryong pamilya. Wala ho kaming koneksyon sa mga politico. Hindi ho kami makapangyarihan, ang kalaban namin , konektado, maimpluwensya,” he said.
“Humihingi kami ng tulong na proteksyunan niyo ang aming pamilya dahil natatakot kami.”
Orate Sr.’s remains are currently in Arlington Memorial Chapels in Araneta Avenue.