Datu Unsay mayor wants Cotabato Judge probed for alleged political meddling

DATU Unsay Mayor Bai Reshal Santiago Ampatuan has asked Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez to investigate a Cotabato Judge for alleged meddling in the political affairs of her province.

In a five-page letter, Bai Reshal said, “I am writing this letter in desperation and frustration on how the justice system works here in Cotabato City with special particularity against opponents of Maguindanao Governor Toto Mangudadatu.”

She added: “This is also for the purpose of bringing to your attention the irregular acts of Judge George Jabido and allowing his court to be desecrated and used for partisan political activity stretching down to the office of the city prosecutor.”

Judge Jabido issued a warrant for her arrest, as well as her Vice Mayor Janine Julhaiya Ampatuan Mamalapat, Angandamen Salik, Mang Pendulat and Ammerah Ampatuan Mamalapat in connection with the murder of their uncle, Abdullah “Doro”Ampatuan in 2013.

Bai Reshal said the Judge based the arrest warrant on the affidavits executed by one Kaharudin Saudagal who he said alleged that they were the ones who planned to murder their uncle despite the inconsistency in his own affidavits.

She said the court disregarded the affidavit they have submitted, including the evidence that their uncle himself mentioned in an affidavit that if something happened to him, it would be a certain Kaharudin Saudagal as among the persons to be blamed.

“In addition, we were able to adduce affidavits executed by no less than Kaharudin Saudagal himself which totally contradicts his allegations implicating us in the murder of my uncle,” she said.

The local chief executive said it would be illogical for them to have their uncle murdered over his claim of benefits from his work as a government employee of about P80, 000 and spent P150, 000 for his murder.

She added that it is unlikely that they planned the murder at the house of Datu Andal Ampatuan Sr. on July 25, 2013 because she was in Taguig visiting her husband, Andal Jr. She said a certification from the Camp Bagong Diwa jail warden would prove she was in Metro Manila.

She said her niece, Janine Mamalapat also was not at the residence since she was also visiting Andal Jr. adding that they even presented to the court the certification of the jail warden attesting to this. Bai Reshal said Mamalapat was included in the arrest warrant because she is her vice mayor.

Bai Reshal said her sister-in-law and co-accused, Ammerah Mamalapat, was also not in Datu Andal Sr.’s residence as she was suffering severe neuropathic low back pains at the said date as evidenced by a medical certificate issued by her doctor.

“Interestingly, the prosecutor, despite a motion for reconsideration with motion to hold in abeyance the filing of criminal information pending resolution of the said motion for reconsideration, filed the information before the RTC Branch 15 of Cotabato City,” the letter said adding that the presiding judge then also refused to suspend the proceedings.

The court then issued arrest warrants against them last February 6, 2015, except for Ammerah Mamalapat.

“We filed a motion for reconsideration to his order finding probable cause but it remained unacted for almost two months. In, fact, we have already filed at least two motions calling for the urgent resolution of our motion for reconsideration but Judge Jabido is unmindful of the urgency the accused seek as their liberty is at stake,” the letter said adding that there is still no action to their motion.

Meanwhile, Marquez said he is already verifying the case mentioned by Bai Reshal.

Mangudadatu, on the other hand, said he would welcome any investigation on the allegations of Bai Reshal.