'Andal Jr. threatened witness'

MANILA, Philippines - A prosecution lawyer yesterday accused Maguindanao massacre suspect Andal Ampatuan Jr. of threatening a witness who positively identified him during last Wednesday’s hearing.

Prosecution panel head Peter Medalle said Andal Jr. gestured as if he was pulling the trigger of a gun, as the witness was about to approach him.

“I, as an officer of the court, accused Andal Ampatuan Jr. who was very explicit in making this sign…I saw him raising his left hand and with the right forefinger and thumb on the left palm,” Medalle said.

Medalle was referring to witness Amil Abdul Satar Maliwawaw, who claimed seeing Andal Jr. “giving orders” to armed men in Crossing Salman, Barangay Salman, Ampatuan town on Nov. 23, 2009.

Andal Jr.’s lawyer Sigfrid Fortun, however, dismissed the accusation and called it a “smokescreen to cover their foul maneuvers.”

“The judge was in front of him (Andal Jr.) How could he have done that without being seen? They (prosecution) must be dreaming,” Fortun said.

“We complained yesterday when we caught them (coaxing the witness to point to Andal Jr.) Why didn’t they do (the) same thing? Were they guilt stricken they forgot about it and suddenly remembered this (morning)?” he added.