GMA back as defense witness in Maguindanao massacre case

MANILA, Philippines -  Former President and now Pampanga lawmaker Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo is back on the list of defense witnesses in the Maguindanao massacre case.

During the pre-trial coßnference held yesterday, defense lawyer Gregorio Narvasa said they intend to present Arroyo as among their witnesses.

But Narvasa declined to comment when asked by reporters to explain their latest move.

The defense panel initially included Arroyo among their prospective witnesses but her name was later stricken off the list.

Narvasa, along with Sigfrid Fortun, represents primary suspects Andal Ampatuan Sr. and Andal Ampatuan Jr. Both father and son have pleaded not guilty to the multiple murder charges in connection with the Nov. 23, 2009 killings in Ampatuan town.

There are a total of 196 accused in the multiple murder charges being heard by Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221.

Lawyer Romel Bagares of the Center for International Law, which represents families of 15 victims of the massacre, said they were “shocked” by the latest move of the defense lawyers. But Bagares said they are “looking forward to her testifying” although it was not yet clear on which matters the former president will testify on.

In a related development, private prosecutor Harry Roque expressed concern that it took more than 500 days after the massacre before the Anti-Money Laundering Council was able to obtain an order to freeze the assets of the Ampatuans.

“We sincerely hope the Anti-Money Laundering Council isn’t playing too late the hero here,” Roque said.

“It’s about time the Anti-Money Laundering Council did this…We hope there is still something to freeze because more than 500 days have already passed since the massacre and it is only now that the AMLC chair, Amando Tetangco Jr., the Central Bank governor, finally lifted a finger – we fear that so much opportunity had already been lost,” he said.

He said his clients filed a request with the AMLC for an investigation on the alleged money laundering activities of the Ampatuans since last December. He said it was surprising that no government agency had made a similar request and the AMLC had not started any investigation.

Roque had filed graft, dereliction of duty and administrative misconduct charges against Tetangco for its inaction. Former Securities and Exchange Commission chairperson Fe Barin and Vida Chiong, acting commissioner of the Insurance Commission – all members of the AMLC – were included in the charge sheet.