Ampatuans deny detaining massacre witness' sister

MANILA, Philippines - A lawyer for the Ampatuan clan yesterday denied that the sister of Rasul Sangki is being held against her will to get back at the witness in the Maguindanao massacre.

The hearing scheduled yesterday, during which Amina Sangki Ampatuan was supposed to be presented before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 221, was cancelled.

Amina, wife of Andal Ampatuan Jr.’s brother Bahnaran, and her two minor children were supposed to be presented following the petition for habeas corpus filed by Amina’s father, Datu Zacaria Sangki.

The respondent in the petition, Andal Jr.’s sister Rebecca, cited that Amina has been advised by her obstetrician-gynecologist to take bed rest until her scheduled delivery on June 14.

Rebecca’s lawyer Gregorio Narvasa told reporters that as far as the clan is concerned, the Ampatuans are not holding Amina against her will.

Narvasa added that it would be better for Amina to tell it herself. He said Amina is in Cotabato, “near the hospital where she is scheduled to give birth.”

Narvasa said they asked the Court of Appeals to review the granting of the habeas corpus petition, citing “jurisdictional issues.”

Quezon City RTC Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes gave Amina’s father five days to comment on the Ampatuans’ motion to stop the proceedings.