Beware of Ampatuans bearing ‘gifts’
DAVAO CITY, Philippines—Malacañang may develop a profound sense of “utang na loob” (indebtedness) to Zaldy Ampatuan if it bites the bait of his exposé on alleged election fraud involving former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
This warning was issued by Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu in the course of expressing apprehension over remarks by the Department of Justice (DoJ) that Ampatuan could become a state witness in a possible election sabotage case against Arroyo, now a representative of Pampanga.
Malacañang took pains to say that the President had not and would not meet with Ampatuan.
Those behind the talk that the President met with the former ARMM governor are “trying to stain this administration and make it appear that we are coddling the Ampatuans,” Edwin Lacierda, Mr. Aquino’s spokesperson, told reporters.
“And that is something we will never do. We have made that clear, especially to the families of the Maguindanao massacre victims,” Lacierda said, adding:
“There is no need for [the President] to meet with Zaldy Ampatuan. Why should there be a need to meet with Zaldy Ampatuan? I cannot fathom the reason why he needs to meet with Zaldy Ampatuan.”
Ampatuan, a former governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), is one of the primary suspects in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre in which Mangudadatu’s wife, two sisters and a number of other kin were among the victims.
“The government might develop a sense of utang na loob that will lessen [Ampatuan’s liability in the] case,” Mangudadatu told reporters.
He said the government’s lack of witnesses in the election fraud issue against Arroyo could prompt it to strike a deal with the former governor.
No meeting with DoJ
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima likewise told reporters that the DoJ had not met with Ampatuan.
But she said “information is being relayed to us, and certain documents are being furnished us, supposedly from his camp.”
De Lima also said she had not seen any affidavit from Ampatuan, “unsigned or otherwise,” in relation to the Maguindanao massacre.
“What I have seen are unsigned affidavits related to other alleged anomalies and irregularities in the ARMM which he knew as governor,” she said.
Let Bedol talk
What the government should do, according to Mangudadatu, is to press the recently surrendered Lintang Bedol, a former election supervisor of Maguindanao, to spill the beans on the purported election fraud in a formal inquiry.
Mangudadatu defended President Aquino against criticism that he would be vindictive in pursuing the claims of election fraud against Arroyo.
“I don’t think so, if the reason is to ferret out the truth so appropriate measures can be undertaken to ensure against a repeat of the same election anomaly,” the governor said.
“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.
Ampatuan’s wife, Johaira Midtimbang, had earlier said her detained husband was seeking no concession in coming forward with his exposé.
In Digos City, Davao del Sur Gov. Douglas Cagas said an inquiry into the purported election fraud in Maguindanao and other provinces in the ARMM would be a waste of time.
“Everybody knows about it already. At this point, any revelation or even investigation of the 2004 presidential election would be an exercise in futility. Everybody knows there was massive cheating in the ARMM, especially in Maguindanao,” Cagas said.
But Digos Mayor Joseph Peñas said what was important was that with the inquiry, the people would now have solid evidence that election fraud had been committed. With reports from Judy Quiros, Charlie Señase and Orlando Dinoy, Inquirer Mindanao
