A PRIVATE prosecutor in the Maguindanao massacre case on Wednesday accused one of the principal suspects for his supposed “continuing attempt” to bribe the kin of the victims in exchange for an amicable settlement of the civil case he is facing before the Quezon City court.
In an interview, lawyer Nena Santos representing Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu said seven of the complainants informed her that the lawyers of former Muslim Mindanao governor Zaldy Ampatuan are offering them P3 million for their silence.
“I had been receiving information of continuing attempts by Zaldy to bribe the complainants residing in Koronadal City,” she told the Manila Standard.
She said she was able to validate the information “because I am from that area and have double-checked the facts… I also wanted to know who the lawyer was.”
But the complaints, whom Santos declined to identify, challenged Ampatuan to pay them P10 million in exchange for the withdrawal of the civil case alone.
They sought my legal advice. I also told the governor about Zaldy’s offer to seven of the complaints,” Santos said.
She, however, said Ampatuan’s offer is a “welcome development” since “the offer is an admission of guilt. Why settle if you are not guilty?”
The waiver of desistance, if the offer materializes, could further establish Ampatuan’s guilt on the criminal aspect of the case, she pointed out.
As far as the criminal aspect of the case is concerned, Santos said an amicable settlement is very impossible.
“All of the accused have already been arraigned. The defense and prosecution have presented their evidence,” she added.
In August 2014, the widow of the slain Manila Bulletin reporter Alejandro Reblando came forward, saying she was offered a P3-million bribe by the members of the Ampatuan family.
At least 58 people, including 32 journalists, were killed while on their way to Shariff Aguak to accompany Mangudadatu’s wife, sisters and lawyer to file his certificate of candidacy for governor on Nov. 3, 2009 in Maguindanao.
The Ampatuan clan was tagged as behind the massacre. Charges of multiple counts of murder were filed against the Ampatuans before the Department of Justice that transferred the case to the Quezon City Regional Trial Court’s Branch 212.