Zaldy Ampatuan seeks protection as witness

Former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Zaldy Ampatuan is seeking inclusion in the government’s Witness Protection Program (WPP), after he again implicated former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in alleged election rigging in 2007.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, however, told the Inquirer Thursday in a text message that Zaldy “has not applied for WPP coverage, to date.”

Zaldy, his father former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. and brother Andal Jr. are the main suspects in the Maguindanao massacre.

Zaldy is fighting his inclusion in the charge sheet in a petition pending in the Court of Appeals, but has implicated his father and brother in the gruesome killing of at least 57 people on Nov. 29, 2009, in Maguindanao. The body of a reported 58th victim has yet to be found.

“This affidavit relates to my knowledge of the illegalities committed by then President Gloria Arroyo in the 2007 elections,” read Zaldy’s two-page sworn affidavit, a copy of which was obtained by the Inquirer.

In the final paragraph, Zaldy said: “I am executing this affidavit as a witness availing of the benefits of the Witness Protection Program pursuant to RA 6981 and to attest to the truth of the foregoing statements.”

In his affidavit that was notarized in July, Zaldy did not say if he participated in the alleged manipulation of the 2007 election results in Maguindanao.

But he reiterated some of the details that were on another affidavit that he left unsigned but which was leaked to the media earlier that month. In that statement Zaldy claimed the poll rigging in Maguindanao was engineered by Arroyo and her husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo.

Zaldy had said he was with his father, Andal Sr., at the Century Park hotel in January or February 2007 when the latter was summoned by the former first gentleman to a meeting in Makati City.

Zaldy said his father later told him that Mike Arroyo had given him P3 million “in exchange for manipulating the election results in the ARMM.”

After the leak of his unsigned statement, De Lima had vigorously opposed suggestions Zaldy was willing to turn state’s evidence in exchange for his freedom.

“Only one who had participation in a crime can be a state witness. Even then, there are elements [and] conditions prescribed by law. Whether or not such elements are met is subject to evaluation,” De Lima had said.

Meanwhile, the Maguindanao massacre trial will go on a two-week hiatus as presiding Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes said she would be going on leave beginning next week. She set the next hearing for September 28.

At Thursday’s hearing, the defense continued with its cross-examination of Maguindanao farmer Haical Mangacop.—Nikko Dizon and Philip C. Tubeza