Military keeps 3 Ampatuans in police safehouse

ZAMBOANGA CITY , Philippines  – Three of the Ampatuan family members who were arrested in connection with the Maguindanao massacre had been kept in a safehouse by the police before they were charged with rebellion yesterday.

Regional military spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Ponce said compelling security concerns prompted the police to move Maguindanao Gov. Sajid Islam Ampatuan, his father Maguindanao Vice Gov. Akmad Ampatuan Sr. and Shariff Aguak town Mayor Anwar Ampatuan to a secure place.

“They were temporarily brought here and were moved to another police camp for security reason,” Ponce said without elaborating.

This developed as the Department of Justice (DOJ) charged the Ampatuans and the other accused with rebellion.

Acting Maguindanao provincial prosecutor Leo Dacera submitted a three-page complaint before the Cotabato regional trial court alleging the 24 people, including the Ampatuans and their armed groups, had disrupted normal government functions in the province.

Dacera accused the Ampatuans of “massing up armed men and organizing assemblies” in “preventing public prosecutors from being available to conduct inquest and preliminary investigations.”

Dacera alleged the 24 had “willfully, unlawfully and feloniously help, support, promote, maintain, cause, direct and command their followers to rise publicly and take arms against the Republic of the Philippines, or otherwise participate in such armed public uprising, for the purpose of removing allegiance to the government or its laws or depriving the Chief Executive any of her powers or prerogatives.”

“The regional trial courts of the area are not functioning, refused to accept the application for search warrants for violation of PD 1866 to authorize search of properties of heads of the rebellion; and that there was undue delay in the issuance of court processes despite the exigency of the situation,” the information stated.

The DOJ named Shariff Aguak Mayor Anwar and Maguindanao Vice Gov. Akmad Sr. as leading the supposed rebellion.

The DOJ recommended the indictment of former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. for allegedly directing “his private armies to combat the government to death” while ARMM Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan had “directed his people to organize a rally to trigger the government that his constituents are ready to support them and fight for them.”

The DOJ was supposed to file the rebellion charges last Tuesday in compliance with the 72-hour period required by law but were prevented from doing so since it was a Catholic holiday in Cotabato City.

Conspiracy

The DOJ also filed 15 more counts of murder against principal accused Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. before the Cotabato RTC.

This new development brought to 40 the total counts of murder against Ampatuan Jr., according to DOJ Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor.

Blancaflor added the 17 counts would be filed after the panel of prosecutors could secure the results of the autopsies of the other victims of the massacre.

Blancaflor said police investigation revealed a total of 13 vehicles had passed through the road checkpoint that was put up by Ampatuan Jr. and his men shortly before the carnage.

“We call on the occupants of those 13 vehicles who headed to Cotabato to call our hotline and help in the investigation,” Blancaflor said.

He said their testimonies would be “very relevant” to the case since it would establish that the killings were premeditated.

Short of declaring the Ampatuans guilty of the massacre, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Jesus Verzosa said “there are indications” that the family conspired to commit the mass murder of 57 people in Maguindanao on Nov. 23.

“We are now analyzing the evidence so far gathered. There is indication that conspiracy is in there,” Verzosa said.

Verzosa, however, stressed much remains to be proven in the conspiracy angle against the Ampatuans that would only start during the preliminary investigation of the DOJ.

PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) director Chief Superintendent Raul Castañeda added it would be premature for investigators to conclude that there was conspiracy.

“We cannot… jump to that conclusion. But we will file a case of murder against the suspects,” he said.

Deputy Director General Jefferson Soriano added the conspiracy angle would be tackled later after the murder charges are filed, and investigators are still gathering evidence to bolster the theory of conspiracy.

The CIDG is also calling for other witnesses of the massacre to come out and testify, saying that although the PNP has a strong case, there is a need for more witnesses.        –With Edu Punay, John Unson