Any deal with Ampatuan would weaken massacre case—Mangudadatu

DAVAO City, Philippines—Malacañang could develop a profound sense of indebtedness to suspended Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Governor Zaldy Ampatuan if it falls for his supposed exposé on alleged poll fraud involving former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu made this warning as he expressed fear over a recent statement of the Department of Justice and President Aquino that Ampatuan, a suspect in the 2009 Maguindanao carnage, can become a witness in the alleged electoral fraud during the Arroyo administration.

Speaking to reporters here, Mangudadatu said that “utang na loob” could lead to the weakening of the case against Zaldy Ampatuan and other suspects in the Maguindanao massacre.

He said that while the DoJ has rejected Zaldy Ampatuan’s overtures to become a state witness against his father, Andal Sr., brother Andal Jr. and other co-accused in the Maguindanao massacre case, the poll fraud issue was a different story.

“Baka magkaroon ng utang na loob ang government that will lessen his (responsibility in the) case,” Mangudadatu said.

He said the government was wanting of witnesses in the poll fraud issue against Arroyo and Zaldy Ampatuan’s revelations could prompt it to strike a deal with the former ARMM governor.

Mangudadatu instead suggested that the government press former Maguindanao elections supervisor Lintang Bedol to spill the beans on the purported poll fraud in a formal inquiry.

“I’m hoping Attorney Bedol has come to his senses, to tell the truth and nothing but the truth about the massive cheating in Maguindanao, which has divided our people,” Mangudadatu said.

Zaldy Ampatuan’s wife, Johaira Midtimbang, said the former ARMM governor was not asking for any concession in coming out with the revelations.

In Digos City, Davao del Sur Gov. Douglas Cagas said investigating the poll fraud in Maguindanao and other areas of the ARMM would be a waste of time.

“Everybody knows about it already. At this point in time any revelation or even investigation of the 2004 elections is an exercise in futility. Everybody knows there was massive cheating in the ARMM especially Maguindanao,” he said.

But Digos City Mayor Joseph Peñas said what is important is that the people will now have concrete evidence that Arroyo committed poll fraud.—Reports from Judy Quiros, Charlie Señase and Orlando Dinoy, Inquirer Mindanao