Dureza denies arranging turnover of Ampatuan Jr. to GMA

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Outgoing Presidential Assistant for Mindanao Jesus Dureza denied yesterday that he had arranged for the turnover of Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. to the custody of then President Gloria Arroyo to secure his surrender after being named principal suspect in the massacre of 57 people in Maguindanao in November 2009.

“As the official handling the crisis situation during the incident, I categorically deny that I made arrangements for Datu Unsay Ampatuan to be turned over to the custody of then President Arroyo,” Dureza said in a statement.

Dureza explained that custody of Andal Jr. by Mrs. Arroyo had never been an option or had been discussed at all during the negotiations for his surrender.

“Having handled several previous crisis situations, I was fully aware of the sensitivity of the issue. Custody by the (former) president was never an option. Neither was it ever discussed by me with anyone,” he said.

He said he recalled having impressed upon the elder Ampatuan the need to have his son turned over to the authorities, in the presence of former congressman Didagen Dilangalen, lawyer Cynthia Guiani, and former energy undersecretary Zamzamin Ampatuan, among others.

Lakmodin Saliao, a long-time aide of Andal’s father and namesake, said the Ampatuan patriarch only agreed to turn his son in to authorities after being promised that he would be “under the care of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.”

“How can I make arrangements for the former president? I cannot do that. And besides, it was not discussed,” Dureza said.

He said he would only discuss his position in detail in the courts.

“Considering, however, that the issue is in court now, hence, covered by the sub judice rule and in the interest of orderly administration of justice, it is most appropriate that this matter be taken up in detail in court,” he said. “I will give my testimony if asked to testify.”

Dureza said he “spirited out” of Shariff Aguak Andal Jr. and his lawyer Guiani on a Huey helicopter for General Santos City airport where then Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera was waiting to have the Datu Unsay mayor undergo inquest proceedings.

On the same day, Dureza said Andal Jr. was flown to Manila on an Air Force plane and brought directly to the National Bureau of Investigation.

Mrs. Arroyo’s spokesperson Elena Bautista-Horn declined to comment on the matter, saying the custody arrangement was never discussed at all.

Meanwhile, Cotabato Auxiliary Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo expressed hope for swift justice for the 57 victims of the Maguindanao massacre.

“Our prayer, our wish is for a speedy trial and that justice would be given to them (the victims) because as they say in English ‘justice delayed is justice denied,’” Bagaforo said over Radio Veritas. 

“I do not know how the legal system would work with that kind, you know the many witnesses, but I am sure that there is a legal remedy for that in order to fast- track the case and I hope that they would do that,” he said.