Escorted by four witness protection program (WPP) agents of the Department of Justice, Rosebelle Agustin-Cruz said that justice will prevail only with the imprisonment of the mastermind in the slaying of her father.

"There is no use jailing whoever have gunned down my father if the mastermind shall not be punished," Agustin Cruz told newsmen here.

Claiming innocence of the charge, Ylarde denied having any participation in the killing.

Agustin-Cruz, who is four-month pregnant, was assisted by Provincial Prosecutors Hydierabad Casar, Jonald Hernandez, and Dante Sindac at yesterday’s hearing held in the sala of Judge Armando Yanga of Branch 66 of the Regional Trial Court.

Lawyer Gerry Noveras, counsel of Mayor Ylarde, did not enter any plea bargaining as he denied all the accusations against his client.

The three other accused are Reynaldo Morite, Boyet Morite, and Manuel Alday.

Ylarde, through lawyer Noveras, denied personally knowing the two Morites.

The alleged triggermen, Boyet Morite and Manuel Alday, are still at large. The two are now being hunted by the authorities.

A bounty of R200,000 is offered for the arrest of the suspects, then Task Force Agustin head Chief Supt. Alejandro Lapinid said.

Before the trial that started at 10:30 in the morning, Agustin-Cruz told mediamen that the death of her father will be given justice only with the imprisonment of the culprit who masterminded the killing.

Agustin was shot dead by two armed men in the house of her daughter in Barangay Paltic, Dingalan at about 11:45 p.m. on May 10, 2005, shortly after he had discussed with town Councilor Valentino Lapuz about the issue of his newspaper that carries articles on the alleged misuse of calamity funds during the series of typhoons that devastated Dingalan in November 2004.