Philippine Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of the main guest speaker at the observance of the 3rd Anniversary of the Maguindanao Massacre along with Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist Benjamin Pimentel (left), shares his thoughts before the members of the media and other guests who attended the event held Wednesday at the Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA) Social Hall in the Filipinotown. Photo: Benny Uy
MANILA, (Mabuhay) – Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero intends to file a resolution to look into the alleged bribery of prosecutors involved in the Maguindanao massacre case and the kin of victims of the gruesome murders.
“Ang plano kong ihaing resolution na pinag-aaralan na namin ngayon ay ‘yung diumano suhulan sa DOJ (Department of Justice) at sa NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) kaugnay ng Ampatuan [Massacre],” the senator said in the weekly “Kapihan sa Diamond Hotel” on Monday.
“Tuwid na daan at ang walang kurap kung walang mahirap ang slogan ng administrayong ito, napakasama sa panlasa ang mga kwento o alingasngas tulad nito na lumalabas at tila hindi mawala-wala,” he pointed out.
Escudero said his staff is trying to reach the whistleblowers on the alleged payoffs. “Hopefully, this week, we will be able to contact the whistleblowers if they are willing to testify without need of a subpoena.”
The private and public prosecutors in multiple murder case are squabbling over allegations of bribery.
Prosecution witness Lakmodin Saliao, a long-time Ampatuan househelp, recently claimed that his former employer tasked him with handing over P50 million for their lawyer to distribute to the public prosecutors. Allegedly P20 million went to Justice Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III, the supervising DOJ official handling the massacre case.
Private prosecutor Nena Santos, who represents Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, also claimed to have been offered bribe money by the camp of the accused. Santos said she rejected the offer, and the money supposedly went instead to the public prosecutors.
The public prosecutors have denied Santos’ claims.
Earlier, Myrna Reblando, widow of slain Manila Bulletin reporter Alejandro Reblando, revealed that members of the Ampatuan clan tried to bribe her with P3 million to drop the case.
Some members of the Ampatuan clan and many others are facing multiple counts of murder for allegedly killing 58 individuals, including 32 journalists, in November 2009.
Among those arraigned were eight prominent members of the Ampatuan clan, including Andal Sr., who is a former governor of Maguindanao, and his sons, Andal Jr., Rizaldy, and Sajid.
The victims’ convoy was on its way to file the certificate of candidacy of Mangudadatu, when they were kidnapped, killed and subsequently buried in Ampautan Town. Among those killed were Mangudadatu’s wife, his two sisters, journalists, lawyers, aides, and motorists who were witnesses or were mistaken as part of the convoy. (MNS)