CA junks Zaldy plea to inspect frozen Ampatuan assets

MANILA, Philippines—The Court of Appeals has junked an appeal by Maguindanao massacre suspect, suspended governor Zaldy Ampatuan, to inspect the assets of his family that have been ordered frozen by the court.

In a two-page resolution, the CA Former Special Second Division, said that the motion for reconsideration filed by Ampatuan, along with Adham Patadon and Nelia Garde, were not substantial and only reiterated matters that had already been decided by the court.

The resolution was written by Associate Justice Celia Librea-Leagogo and concurred in by Presiding Justice Andres Reyes Jr and Justice Alihu Ybañez.

Ampatuan, who was governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, wanted to get copies of the detailed written returns made by the different banking institutions, the Philippine National Police and the Land Transportation Office.

“A careful perusal of the Urgent Ex-Parte Motion for Reconsideration, as well as the Comment thereto, shows that the grounds relied upon in the said motion are mere reiteration of the matters already considered and passed upon in our resolution, and the arguments raised therein are too unsubstantial to warrant a reconsideration thereof. We, therefore, find no compelling reason to modify or reverse our resolution,” the court said.

Zaldy, his father Andal Ampatuan Sr. and brother, former Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Jr., are the principal suspects in the gruesome 2009 Maguindanao massacre.

The appellate court granted the request of the Anti-Money Laundering Council to freeze the assets of the Ampatuan family that included 743 bank accounts, 132 motor vehicles, 113 houses and lots, and 140 firearms.