Mangudadatu, 2 others to testify vs Zaldy

MANILA, Philippines - The court handling the Maguindanao massacre trial has recalled Maguindanao Gov. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu to the witness stand for the continuation of the hearings on the bail petition of former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governor Zaldy Ampatuan next week.

The Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 released to the media yesterday copies of a subpoena ordering Mangudadatu and two others to testify before Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes as prosecution witnesses on Jan. 23 and 24.

Mangudadatu’s wife, Genalyn, was one of the 58 victims of the Nov. 23, 2009 massacre where 32 media practitioners were killed.

He previously testified before the court on the bail petitions filed by other accused, including that of Zaldy’s father and brother, Andal Sr. and Andal Jr.

Prosecutors earlier said that Mangudadatu, along with former government officials, would testify on the supposed meetings that were held to warn him from running against the Ampatuan clan in the 2010 elections.

Aside from Mangudadatu, also subpoenaed were Smart Communications Inc. senior liaison officer Joefrey Lizada and GMA-7 reporter Joseph Morong.

The court likewise directed Morong to bring the video footage of his July 2011 interview with Zaldy inside his detention cell at the Quezon City Jail Annex in Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan in Taguig City.

It specifically ordered the journalist to make available to the court the portion of the footage where Zaldy had voiced the intention or the offer to turn state witness.

Prosecutor Aristotle Reyes earlier said that Morong, as well as ABS-CBN reporter Anthony Taberna, would testify on Zaldy’s previous interviews that covered his supposed participation in the incident.

Members of the Ampatuan clan, implicated as masterminds of the crime, have denied the multiple murder charges filed against them.