MANILA, Philippines – Four men involved in the killing of a key witness in the massacre in Maguindanao have been identified.

Harry Roque, a professor at the University of the Philippines College of Law, said they have an eyewitness who can identify those who killed Suwaid Upham, or “Jesse,” in Parang, last June 14.

“May positive identification sa kanilang apat na bumaril sa kanya,” said Roque in an interview with radio dzMM Saturday.

Upham claimed he was one of the gunmen ordered to kill the 57 victims in the massacre last year. Roque’s law firm represents 14 media victims of the massacre.

Roque said he will reveal the names of the suspects on Monday.

“Nagdo-double confirmation muna po ako at isisiwalat natin iyan sa Lunes,” he said.

The lawyer said he will also identify the mastermind behind Upham’s killing, based on the eyewitness’s statement.

According to the lawyer, the eyewitness is an employee of a family in Maguindanao.

The informant is now in hiding for fear of his life.

Roque refused to identify Upham’s killers, but said his informant told him residents of Maguindanao know them as being close to the Ampatuan clan.

The lawyer, however, said he has yet to personally verify the information.

Love triangle?

Meanwhile, the provincial director assigned in Maguindanao said on Friday that Upham’s death had nothing to do with the massacre case.

Senior Superintendent Alex Lineses said they are eyeing love triangle as the motive behind the killing.

“May nililigawan na isang babae na nagkataon yata na parang engaged na yun, nakatulog pa nga doon sa bahay ng tatay ng babae,” Lineses said.

The woman’s family did not know that Upham was involved in the massacre of relatives of Gov. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu, lawyers and members of the media.

“Parang mabait pero hindi natin masyadong kilala yung tao,” Naida Sapal said.

Meanwhile, Lineses expressed his readiness to vacate his post after he was accused of neglect that led to the killing of the witness in the massacre.