Chief prosecutor in massacre case denies getting bribe

MANILA, Philippines - The former head of the prosecution panel handling the Maguindanao massacre case denied before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday that he received a bribe from the Ampatuan family.

“Not everyone has a price tag,“ said senior state deputy prosecutor Richard Fadullon.

“It’s so foolish that would happen because that time, I have already resigned as panel head, and was replaced,” he added.

The NBI probe stemmed from allegations made by Jerramy Joson that Fadullon is among those paid millions of pesos to fix the case in favor of the Ampatuan clan.

The list was purportedly written in a notebook owned by her former employer Arnel Manaloto, who used to be a lawyer of the political clan.

Manaloto has denied Joson’s claims, saying the notebook and bribe allegations were all made up.

Fadullon also tagged as “irresponsible” the news report that exposed Joson’s notebook.

He said he plans to file criminal charges against the journalist who was responsible for the news report.