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Friday, March 29, 2024

Ampatuan allowed to join witness protection scheme

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FORMER Datu Salibo town mayor Akmad Ampatuan was admitted to the Department of Justice’s Witness Protection Program after he agreed to become a state witness against 50 new respondents in the Maguindanao massacre case, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Friday.

She said the new respondents included 14 Ampatuans, and that four of them were incumbent mayors in Maguindanao. She said Akmad was a close relative and a trusted man of Andal Ampatuan Sr., one of the principal accused in the case.

“He [Akmad] is under the WPP. He is covered by the WPP,” De Lima said.

“He is one of the major witnesses in the second wave of complaints. He is a crucial witness, so we admitted him under the WPP.”

The Maguindanao massacre took place in the town of Ampatuan on Nov. 23, 2009. While the 58 victims were on their way to file a certificate of candidacy for Esmael Mangudadatu, the vice mayor of Buluan town, they were kidnapped and brutally killed.

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Mangudadatu was challenging Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., son of the incumbent Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. and a member of one of Maguindanao’s leading Muslim political clans, in the coming Maguindanao gubernatorial elections in 2010.

The people killed included Mangudadatu’s wife, his two sisters, journalists, lawyers, aides and motorists who were witnesses or mistakenly identified as part of the convoy. 

De Lima ordered the WPP office to file the appropriate manifestation and motion before the Cotabato Regional Trial Court to inform them that Akmad was under government protection.

“We are asserting our authority that he should be under our custody,” she said.

The Cotabato RTC recently issued a warrant of arrest for Akmad Ampatuan who is facing charges of arson and murder.

Akmad Ampatuan, along with two companions who are also witnesses, was ambushed last November 18. Denix Sakal, said to be a close aide of detained Andal “Unsay” Ampatuan Jr., was killed in the attack. Sukarno “Butch” Saudagal was wounded.

“Fortunately he survived and became interested in the case,” De Lima said.

 

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