PHILIPPINES: Massacre suspect Andal Ampatuan Jr. says he is innocent but private prosecutors confident eyewitness testimony will pin him down

Record ID: 1526134

  • Title: PHILIPPINES: Massacre suspect Andal Ampatuan Jr. says he is innocent but private prosecutors confident eyewitness testimony will pin him down
  • Date: 15th January 2010
  • Summary: VICTIMS' RELATIVES WALKING OUT OF HEARING AREA LEGAL COUNSEL HARRY ROQUE WALKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) HARRY ROQUE, LEGAL COUNSEL FOR VICTIMS' RELATIVES, SAYING: "For the first time there was testimony of an eyewitness, and I think it's very difficult to argue against the testimony of a person who was there and who saw Mayor Unsay as one of those who actually killed some of the victims." POLICEMEN CROWDED NEAR COURT ENTRANCE AS CONVOY LEAVES VARIOUS OF CONVOY ESCORTING ANDAL AMPATUAN JR. LEAVING POLICE CAMP
  • Embargoed: 29th January 2010 21:19
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Philippines
  • Country: Philippines
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
  • Reuters ID: LVA38GITRCWO5JPD2WU4BT568516
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: The main suspect in the massacre of 57 people in the southern Philippines appealed on Tuesday (January 12) for a fair trial and told reporters he was innocent.
    Andal Ampatuan Jr., a town mayor and son of a political warlord with close ties to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, is in jail in Manila on multiple murder charges. He appealed for bail on Wednesday (January 13).
    "All I want is a fair trial. If it's fair, I will win the case 100 percent, because Allah knows, I know, that I am innocent from all these accusations," Ampatuan Jr. told reporters.
    Ampatuan Jr., also known as Unsay, denied that he was receiving special treatment due to his powerful status, as alleged by the victims' families and activists.
    "With regard to the VIP treatment, if you want you can come in and see for yourself. I didn't bring any special objects inside. All I have are my change of clothes," Ampatuan Jr. said.
    Saheed Mangudadatu, a member of the rival clan whose members were killed in the massacre, said he trusted that the trial will shed light on the truth.
    "The good Lord knows the truth. Ampatuan Jr. is asking for the truth to come out, and the Lord will show the whole truth that they are the ones who killed our friends in the media and our Muslim brothers," said Saheed Mangudadatu, whose sisters and other female relatives died in the massacre.
    Government prosecutors presented before a local court on Wednesday an eye witness in the massacre, as they opposed Ampatuan Jr.'s petition to post bail.
    The witness, Rasul Sangki, narrated in court how the massacre victims were blocked along the highway, then brought to a hillside where they were executed. Some of the victims were buried along with their vehicles in shallow mass graves.
    Sangki, Vice Mayor of Ampatuan town where the killings took place, told the court the victims were shot at close range by Ampatuan Jr. and his two nephews.
    He also linked Datu Andal Ampatuan Sr., the patriarch of the powerful political clan that has ruled Maguindanao province for nearly a decade, to the mass murders of the Mangudadatu family members, journalists and civilians on November 23.
    Sangki, whose sister is married to Ampatuan Sr.'s grandson, said he volunteered to testify against the Ampatuans. He said he was at the crime scene because Ampatuan Jr. called him up to join Andal's group who were then at a police checkpoint along the highway.
    The main suspect shook his head and was visibly irritated while Sangki gave his testimony on the mass murders.
    Ampatuan Jr. was under heavy guard, but his handcuffs were removed inside the courtroom at a police camp in Manila.
    State prosecutors said they were confident the eyewitness account would convince the judge to deny bail for Ampatuan Jr.
    "For the first time there was testimony of an eyewitness, and I think it's very difficult to argue against the testimony of a person who was there and who saw Mayor Unsay as one of those who actually killed some of the victims," said Harry Roque, attorney for the victims' families.
    Most of the victims were on their way to an election office to witness the filing of nomination papers for a member of the Ampatuans' rival political clan when about 100 armed men attacked their convoy.
    The killings raised fears next May's elections would be bloody, particularly the contest for provincial posts.
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