Robredo asked to make list of top massacre suspects

Justice Secretary Leila De Lima. INQUIRER/Niño Jesus Orbeta

MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Friday said she has asked Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, who oversees the Philippine National Police, to intensify the search for the remaining suspects in the 2007 Maguindanao massacre.

Reacting to a report that up to six potential witnesses to the crime have been murdered, De Lima told reporters she had submitted to Robredo a “priority list” of 20 suspects who must be arrested.

“Part of the problem is that many of the accused are at large. I told Secretary Robredo that as long as there are many still at large, these events (killings of witnesses) will continue to happen. On my part, I gave him a priority list and [asked him] to intensify the manhunt against the remaining suspects.”

She said witnesses who do not want to be covered by the government’s witness protection program (WPP) face risks to their lives and their families.

“I just learned about the recent killing of one witness on the newspaper. It really is tragic that this happened but we cannot do anything because they didn’t want to be covered by the WPP,” she said.

In Cotabato City, the head of the Maguindanao police has raised doubts that Alijol Ampatuan, the man who was killed in February in Sharidd Aguak, the provincial capital, was a potential witness in the 2009 massacre.

“I don’t know anything about it. It is the business of the witness protection program. But as far as I am concerned, he was not a witness,” said Senior Supt. Marcelo Pintac.

Nena Santos, counsel of the Mangudadatus, said Alijol was shot and killed on Feb. 12.

Santos identified Alijol as a distant relative of former Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr., the patriarch of the powerful clan who is among the 196 people accused in the mass murder.

She said the real identity of the man was known only when a police officer said he knew him to be Alijol Ampatuan and not Menjie Mangulamas Ubpon, as the investigation report of the incident had indicated.

Six witnesses and their relatives had been killed since 2010, Santos said.

The Mangudadatu counsel added that the prosecution had been searching for Alijol, who was being eyed to turn state witness. She said according to a witness, the slain Ampatuan had ordered him to bring 36 militiamen to the massacre site on the day the 57 people, including 31 journalists, were either gunned down or hacked to death.

Chief Supt. Mario Avenido, police chief of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), said other potential witnesses should be secured and provided with escorts.

“I have to check this with our provincial police director to ensure the safety of other witnesses,” said Avenido.

Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu said the killing of a state witness is an indication that the government needs to strengthen its witness protection program.

“Lawmen should ensure that state witnesses are provided with ample protection. The nonappearance of witnesses will surely prolong litigation, and worst, their disappearance for life would not only delay but deny dispensation of true justice,” he said.

Recently, a man claiming to be closely associated with Andal Sr. also said he was ready “to tell the truth” about the Maguindanao massacre.

Identifying himself as Commander Sam, the man said he can provide details on the plot to kill Governor Mangudadatu because he was present in the meetings Andal Sr. had called for this purpose.

Commander Sam said the plot revolved around Mangudadatu’s decision to challenge the Ampatuan patriarch in the 2010 gubernatorial elections.

“The first meeting [where the plot was hatched] was held in Manila Hotel on Nov. 19, 2009,” he said, noting that it was presided over by Andal Sr. and attended by some relatives and his sons.

He said he is bothered by his conscience and wants to unburden himself of guilt.