Ampatuans deny taking part in Maguindanao massacre

MANILA, Philippines - Four members of the Ampatuan clan have denied involvement in the Nov. 23 massacre of 57 people in Maguindanao, through their counter-affidavits submitted to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

In separate affidavits, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan, his brothers Acting Maguindanao Gov. Sajid Islam and Shariff Aguak Mayor Anwar, and cousin Maguindanao Vice Gov. Akmad Tato all claimed they were neither at the scene of the carnage nor at the house of their father, former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr., in Shariff Aguak during the alleged planning of the massacre on Nov. 22.

The Ampatuans argued that the complaint filed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), which is being investigated by the DOJ, has no specific allegations detailing their supposed involvement in the massacre.

“Aside from the fact that this (allegation) is not true, complainant did not even specify any act allegedly committed by me that would indicate my complicity thereon and justify my indictment,” Zaldy Ampatuan said in his three-page affidavit sworn before the General Santos City prosecutor’s office.

He claimed that on Nov. 23, he was having a meeting with President Arroyo in Malacañang on the national government’s plan to resolve the conflict in Sulu.

He said he was implicated in the massacre based merely on the testimony of a witness who supposedly saw the “mag-aamang Ampatuan” planning the massacre at the house of Andal Sr.

The ARMM governor claimed that at the time of the supposed planning, he was at his house in Juna Subdivision in Davao City with Ulama Acad.

“It is physically impossible for me to be at two places at the same time. Davao City is about 300 kilometers from Shariff Aguak and takes four to five hours by land to reach,” he said.

He submitted the affidavits of Acad Ulama and of a certain Norodin Mamaluba to support his claim.

In his defense, Islam claimed that he was at the office of the Commission on Elections in Shariff Saydona Mustapha when the carnage took place.

He said that on Nov. 22, he spent the whole afternoon supervising the cleaning and repair of their municipal office.

“We had dined at around 7 p.m. and my mother-in-law left for Cotabato at around 9:30 p.m. I never left my own house that night and I was in fact in the company of my wife and in-laws the whole day,” he explained.

In his affidavit, Anwar said that on the day of the massacre, he was at the municipal hall, meeting with councilors and barangay officials regarding the proposed project of the Local Water Utilities Administration.

He said that on the day of the alleged planning, he was inspecting a project site with Municipal Engineer Halil Lucas.

In his defense, Tato claimed he was at a medical mission in their municipal gymnasium at the time of the massacre. He also claimed he stayed in his home in Mamasapano town when the alleged meeting took place.

The Ampatuans, who are detained in Maguindanao on rebellion charges, asked the DOJ to dismiss the multiple murder charges against them for insufficiency of evidence.

Sixty of the 200 respondents in the consolidated complaints have also submitted their counter-affidavits during the month-long proceedings.

Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera said all respondents had been given ample time to answer the charges in two hearings held on Dec. 18 and 28 but most of them, including the alleged masterminds, Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. and his father Andal Sr., have not submitted their counter-affidavits.

She said the consolidated complaints filed by the PNP and NBI have been submitted for resolution after yesterday’s hearing, and the panel led by Senior State Prosecutor Rosanne Balauag would issue a resolution on or before Feb. 2, 2010.

“The panel will now study the submitted counter-affidavits and evidence, which will be the bases for the resolution,” Devanadera said.