Ex-houseboy of Andal Sr. testifies

MANILA, Philippines -  The former houseboy of the Ampatuans who alleged the family plotted the Maguindanao massacre over dinner was recalled to the witness stand yesterday and pointed to Andal Ampatuan Sr. as having presided over the family meeting.

“He gave the orders to kill the Mangudadatus and the rest of the convoy,” Lakmodin Saliao declared as he pointed to the 70-year-old clan patriarch.

Saliao tagged Andal Sr. but was not allowed to approach the accused who stood behind the steel bars separating the lawyers from the gallery.

Saliao also identified the patriarch’s son Sajid as having been present in the family gathering.

Saliao maintained the elder Ampatuan had called a family meeting on Nov. 17, 2009 to discuss how to neutralize the threat posed by the Mangudadatus in challenging their political clout in Maguindanao.

Yesterday’s hearing marked the first time any of the accused Ampatuans were identified in open court.

Defense lawyer Sigfrid Fortun, however, complained of the “inappropriate actions” of Saliao and asked the court to prevent the witness from uttering “unnecessary” remarks.

Saliao was recalled to the witness stand where prosecutors asked him again if the accused Andal Sr. in court was the same person who led the Nov. 17 meeting.

To which Saliao firmly replied: “Yes na yes na yes.”

His answer elicited laughter in the courtroom, prompting Fortun to ask Quezon City Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes to reprimand the former houseboy “for making a cockpit out of the proceeding.”

Prosecutors also explained to the court that Andal Sr. even tried to bribe the former houseboy to retract his statements.

Saliao said Andal Sr. gave the order to “kill them all,” referring to their political rival, now Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu and his supporters.

He said the patriarch’s sons – Andal Jr., Zaldy, Sajid, among others – were also present at the family gathering.

Fortun and the defense panel did not conduct cross-examination. Sajid’s lawyer Paris Real, for his part, said he would have to read the transcript of records before conducting an “intellectual” cross examination of Saliao.    – With Edu Punay