Zaldy Ampatuan’s information on massacre ‘inadequate’ —Sec. Robredo

MANILA, Philippines—Following suspended Governor Zaldy Ampatuan’s plea to turn state witness Monday, Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo said on Tuesday that the information Zaldy has said he could provide were “inadequate, insufficient” so far.

“So far, there is nothing substantial about his offer and the information that he recently gave me during my surprise visits to Bicutan to determine if they are being given VIP treatments by BJMP guards have all been reported in the papers and broadcast in radio and TV.”

“We have to cautiously assess Zaldy Ampatuan’s offer to turn state witness in the Maguindanao massacre case,” said Robredo.

He however said that they would hear what he had to say, adding that the suspended governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao could be of help only if there was a corroborating witness they could reach through him.

“If he has something more to offer that would be beneficial to the case, I would leave it up to the Department of Justice, the agency that is handling the case, to assess them.”

Robredo said that Zaldy will not be given any “perks or privileges” with their move to separate him from his jailed family members. He stated that they were just securing him as he was an important personality in the Maguindanao massacre case.

The Department of Interior and Local Government has separated Zaldy Ampatuan from the cell of his father and brother in Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig.