Aquino wants to double-check basis for controversy over Ampatuans in jail

MANILA, Philippines — President Benigno Aquino III said on Monday he would ask Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu to clarify his allegations that the Ampatuans, the primary accused in the Maguindanao massacre trial, were being given special treatment in jail, after information cropped up that the governor’s video clips and photographs were “scenes from last year.”

The Ampatuans are detained at the Camp Bagong Diwa for their involvement in the November 2009 Maguindanao massacre. Mangudadatu’s wife, two sisters, dozens of supporters and at least 30 local journalists were among those slaughtered by armed men believed to be personally led by former Datu Unsay, Maguindanao mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr.

Mr. Aquino met with Mangudadatu, along with other governors of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, at the Palace on Monday afternoon. The agenda was to continue their dialog on the President’s pet proposal to postpone the ARMM elections set for August so that he could appoint his officers-in-charge in a bid to institute “reforms” in the region.

The President said Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo told him that Mangudadatu had admitted that the video clips and pictures which he presented as evidence for the special treatment were “scenes of last year.”

“So the issue here is — Is it still happening? Did it ever happen?” Mr. Aquino told reporters as he noted that Robredo has been investigating Mangudadatu’s complaint.

“But fair is fair. The way it has come to me, why did these video pictures come out as newly discovered when they were last year’s? I’m just wondering that these are not new and if these are not new, how did it get into the news?” President Aquino said.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the Palace was awaiting Robredo’s report on his investigation of the alleged special treatment accorded to the Ampatuans in Camp Bagong Diwa.

Aside from Andal Jr., the clan patriarch Andal Sr., and the latter’s other son, former ARMM governor Zaldy Ampatuan are now detained and standing trial for the massacre, along with dozens of former members of paramilitary units and policemen in Maguindanao.