Too late

In an interesting turn of events, Zaldy Ampatuan, one of those accused in the gruesome murders known as the Maguindanao massacre where 57 people, including the wife of the Ampatuan’s prime political opponent and several journalists, now wants to turn state witness and rat on his father and younger brother, Andal Ampatuan Sr. and Jr. respectively. In what seems to be an act of spite and remorse, he wants to pin the “real” masterminds of the massacre. According to Zaldy, he blames both his father and brother for ruining his life, his reputation as ARMM governor and for destroying his family and all those of clan Ampatuan who are innocent of the whole sordid affair, but were already guilty by simply carrying the name. He actually wants to have his surname changed. At first glance, this may seem a breakthrough in the more than a yearlong case that has been marred with delaying tactics and slow apprehension of the many involved. But closer analysis may reveal something else.

For one to be qualified as a state witness, one has to be the least involved in the crime. In the case of Zaldy Ampatuan, being charged with conspiracy to commit the crime of murder is by no means being the least involved. This alone may quash his hopes to turn state witness. And he has to deal with the family members of the victims, who definitely will not agree that he goes scot-free. For them, he is guilty as hell! His offer to turn state witness is seen by some as a ploy to further delay the proceedings by throwing a monkey wrench into the prosecution’s case. All of the other witnesses may have to be sidelined to give way to Zaldy’s bombshell revelations that may turn out to be nothing new at all. And according the DOJ, they don’t need his testimony.

I believe true remorse happens early. In this case, that time may have passed for Zaldy Ampatuan. I’m not surprised that the clan Ampatuan is crumbling because of this case. The Ampatuans have let power get into their heads that they stopped using them. How they believed they could get away with something as heinous as this, at this magnitude of a crime is beyond me, and can only be explained by sheer stupidity, impunity and arrogance. All traits of a typical feudal tyrant, believing that the only law is their law. I doubt if Zaldy’s offer will be accepted by anyone. If guilty of conspiracy to commit this massacre, he should very well rot like everyone else in his family. The Ampatuans have lorded it over Maguindanao and much of Mindanao for a long time. They have enjoyed, and abused what money and power could bring to people like them. It’s time to pay.