Blanca's 'hired-killer' retracts confession

Self-confessed hired-killer Philip Medel sought an apology, became hysterical and claimed that investigators tortured him to say that American national Rod Lauren Strunk had masterminded the killing of his wife, actress Nida Blanca, on November 7.

During a preliminary investigation at the justice department, Medel raised his hands, shouted an apology to Strunk and said: "I don't know Mr Strunk. Kill me now. Kill me now. I don't know him. I am sorry. I was tortured. Look at my arms."

He held out his wrists to the public. After that, he could not be stopped. He shouted intermittently, saying: "I am a victim of a political struggle," but did not elaborate. He slumped to the floor and refused to be calmed down.

Medel's counsel, Roberto Umandang, said he had been receiving death threats while under police custody. Later, when he was no longer in court, Medel showed television reporters his wounded arms and legs.

In a dialogue with his wife through Channel 2, Medel said: "I was blindfolded for three days. My genitals were electrocuted. They placed a plastic bag on my head which they filled with water.

"When they arrested me, they took specimens from my hair and fingernails. They asked for a kitchen knife and a shirt. Would you believe that I would keep the knife in my kitchen after the murder?" he asked, adding all the evidence of his alleged participation in Blanca's murder was planted by investigators.

Justice officials suspended the preliminary investigation. Presiding officer and prosecutor, Emmanuel Velasco, ordered Medel to be transferred to the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation.

Medel's wife, Sorvenia Arvee (earlier identified as Dolores) said from Asturias town, Cebu, central Philippines: "I was surprised. I wanted to go to Manila to console him and watch over him. He might be killed. I am afraid. We have been receiving death threats."

Sources said Medel's family, too, was hostaged, adding that he has been a military asset. Strunk's lawyer, Alma Mallonga, asked Velasco to drop the accusations made against Strunk. "I will file a counter-affidavit to clear my client's name," she said.

"This is to me the divine answer. It is a complete shock to me that this man broke down and he even apologised to me for causing all this pressure and all this doubt to my person," Strunk told reporters.

"I am tremendously relieved. This could be the beginning of the healing because my family has been torn apart," said Strunk, adding: "I was afraid that this terrible crime would cause people to grasp at straws to come up with theories as to who killed my wife."

When asked about the possible repercussions of Medel's retraction, Strunk blurted: "The killer is still out there. We have to get to the bottom of this crime." "I don't know anything about this and I don't have anything to gain from her death," Strunk said when further asked about Blanca's last will.

Philippine National Police chief Director General, Leandro Mendoza, called for a closed door meeting with investigator Nestorio Gualberto of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group. A government physician said there were no fresh signs of torture on Medel apart from handcuff marks on his wrists.

"This hurts the credibility of the police looking into the Blanca case," said Interior and Local Government Secretary, Jose Lina, who ordered a probe on Medel's alleged torture. "He (Medel) was just allowed to write what he wanted (in the affidavit)," said police legal counsel, Col Ericson Velasquez.

He volunteered to testify, he came to us. I will find out why he claimed he was tortured," said Gualberto. Medel's retraction should not be considered a setback, said Velasquez, adding that the witness was 'overstressed' by the huge number of people and journalists who showed up at the hearing.

Medel claimed he was offered $3,922 with $980 down payment to kill Blanca, adding that Strunk and two mannish-looking women assisted him in coercing Blanca to submit some documents that she should have signed. When the actress could not do so, Medel said he was ordered to stab her.