Palace tells Maguindanao massacre victims’ relatives: We’re with you

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang has renewed the Aquino government’s commitment to give justice to the victims of the Maguindanao massacre despite one of the principal accused giving information against his own family implicated in the multiple murder case and against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in alleged electoral fraud in 2007.

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda dismissed insinuations on Wednesday that Zaldy Ampatuan might get some form of reprieve as one of the principal accused in the massacre case in exchange for the potentially damning information he had in store for the administration and for the public.

“If you will say that we will side with Ampatuan, that’s not true,” Lacierda said in a late afternoon news briefing.

“Very categorically, no,” Lacierda said at another instance in the press briefing, when asked about the possibility of giving some legal concessions to Zaldy Ampatuan.

“This is also an appeal to the relatives of the victims. You’ve met me, you’ve met Senator Aquino (during the election period). We are committed to you,” Lacierda said.

Lacierda said the families of the victims of the Maguindanao massacre met then presidential candidate Aquino in early 2010. Lacierda said the meeting wasn’t made public because Aquino didn’t want it to be a publicity stunt for his campaign.

Lacierda said he “personally feels for the victims.”

He said he saw the pictures of the crime scene and he couldn’t bring himself to lawyer for the accused Ampatuans.

Lacierda said Myrna Reblando, widow of Manila Bulletin reporter and massacre victim Bong Reblando, also asked him to be her lawyer.

He said he had to turn down the widow as he was already engaged as a campaign spokesman for the then presidential candidate Aquino.

“It’s unimaginable to lawyer for Ampatuan,” Lacierda said.

Lacierda demanded an apology from fellow lawyer Harry Roque, one of the private prosecutors in the massacre case. Roque has alleged that a faction in the Aquino administration—one that includes Lacierda—was lawyering for Ampatuan.

“It’s a work of fiction of Harry Roque,” Lacierda said.

“I think he should apologize to me and (Interior Secretary) Jesse Robredo,” Lacierda added.

Kung sasabihin niyo kami ay kakampi kay Ampatuan ay hindi po totoo yan. Pero ngayon may mga feelers po ipinadala, i-a-assess po natin yung information. Ito po ay panawagan na rin sa relatives ng mga victims. (If you’re saying that we’re siding with the Ampatuans, that’s not true. Now that there are feelers (from Zaldy Ampatuan), we will assess his information. This is our call to the relatives of the (massacre) victims.) You’ve met me, you’ve met Senator Aquino. We are committed to you.”

Lacierda pointed out that ultimately the judge in the trial of the Ampatuans and their alleged henchmen would decide on the fitness of evidence. “Again the case is already in the sound discretion of the judge. She will be the one who will judge the testimony of the prosecution, she will be the one who will judge the testimony of the defense….The judge will see to it that justice will be done.”

After telling the media that he was willing to testify against his own family in connection with the massacre case, Zaldy Ampatuan began to squeal on their clan’s former ally Arroyo by linking her to an order to cheat for her senatorial bets during the 2007 elections.

Lacierda said Zaldy Ampatuan’s information against his own loved ones on the massacre case and against Arroyo on electoral fraud were being assessed for its truthfulness and probative value. He stressed that political motives would not be a factor in the assessment process.

At one point in the briefing, the spokesman said the suspended ARMM governor did not ask to become a state witness in the case but merely sought protection.

Told that it was difficult to believe that Zaldy Ampatuan would implicate people without expecting anything substantial for his own benefit, Lacierda said Zaldy Ampatuan feared for his life and those of his wife and children.

“Asking for protection is not a minor thing,” Lacierda said.