Uphamb, whom media christened “Jessie,” was killed last June 14 in Parang, Maguindanao.
“I put the blame for his death to Acting Secretary Agra and his principal, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who refused to accord any protection to Jessie. There is blood in Agra and Mrs. Arroyo’s hands. May they forever by hunted by the souls of Jessie and the rest of the victims of the massacre,” the straight talking Roque said.
Roque has every right to be outraged. He was the one who sought protection for Jessie at the DOJ.
A Mindanao-based non-government organization brought Jessie to Roque. My sources said the Moro Islamic Liberation Front provided Jessie shelter when he escaped from the Ampatuans.
Roque said when he proposed Jessie as state witness against the Ampatuans, which means he would be under the Witness Protection Program, the DOJ personnel didn’t show up at the agreed time and the agreed place for the interview. It was at the office of Human Rights Chair Leila de Lima who is now the incoming justice secretary.
The DOJ people wanted Jessie instead to go to the justice department on Padre Faura. Roque said, ” Jessie refused to appear in the DOJ premises because he had information that high-ranking officials of the Department were working with the Ampatuans.”
When Agra later dismissed the cases against Zaldy and Akmad Ampatuan, many realized Jessie was not being paranoid.
Roque was afraid that if Jessie went to the DOJ, he would be arrested as he was in the police list of suspects who were at large. He knew that he would not last a night in jail as the Ampatuans had placed a P10 million price for his head.
I met Jessie sometime in March in a safehouse in Quezon city. He looked anxious and tense. He said he was the close-in bodyguard of Datu Kanor, cousin of Andal Ampatuan Jr., former mayor of Datu Unsay town who was the monster who executed the November 23 massacre which killed at least 57 persons, 32 of them journalists.
Jessie said he was one of the seven gunmen in that massacre. This was part of his narration of that despicable happening:
“When we reached the hill, Datu Unsay, who came in his black DMX truck, ordered the passengers in the third van to alight first. I followed the passengers as they stepped out of the van. As Genalyn Mangudadatu emerged from the van, Datu Unsay hit her on the left cheek with the butt of his gun. She staggered at the blow and nearly collapsed to the ground, breaking into loud sobs. Datu Unsay then told everyone to form a line and to lie prostrate on the ground not far from the van. The victims complied with his order. We shooters then formed a jagged line just a foot or so away behind them.
“Genalyn Mangudadatu lay at the head of the line .When Datu Unsay tried to pull her up by an arm to stand, she refused. Instead, she knelt on the ground. An angry Datu Unsay then aimed his baby M203 rifle grenade launcher at her back and fired pointblank on full automatic mode. I heard the woman gave a loud cry as she fell to the ground,” he continued his narration.
Then Andal Jr. gave the order to start shooting, “Sige, fight.”
“I pulled the trigger – we all pulled the trigger and we all fired on full automatic mode. We stood so close to our victims that when we stopped shooting, we were all drenched in blood and bits of human remains – brain matter, bone splinters, strips of skin. Datu Unsay’s white polo shirt turned to crimson,” he said.
Jessie can’t say how many he killed but when stopped firing, and checked his weapon, he found out he had fired 23 three out of thirty rounds.
Weeks after the massacre, Jessie got another job assignment from Andal Jr. who was already under the custody of the NBI: kill the driver of Datu Kanor because there’s a danger that he would talk to investigators.
He killed Datu Kanor’s driver while the guy was sleeping. After that, he learned that it was his turn for liquidation.
For a while he was given sanctuary by a religious group but the seminary was raided. When he was refused DOJ protection, he went back to Maguindanao.
True to his fears, someone executed the contract on him.
This is a process of elimination. The Ampatuans and those above them (the orchestrators)and their other partners in crime would eliminate anyone who wish to divulge the truth. Sa totoo lang they are all criminals! Either they rot in a jail cell or simply go to hell! Sana nga magpatayan ang mga ito para mabawas bawasan ng mga demonyo sa mundo. Who in his right mind would work for “killers” like the Ampatuans or some other power hungry politicians!
Those who live by the sword die by the sword. Justice is still not really served in the obvious manner such as legal courts as I observe. There is that universal law called karma and has been preached in so many ways by all great spiritual teachers. But money and power are so dense screens for enlightenment that all we (ordinary citizens) can do is see these tragic figures (from the many “Jessies” to the likes of Ampatuans) sink in their personal hells.
Let us just hope na linisin ni Delima ang DOJ hindi lang yung mga bataan ni Ampatuans kundi lahat ng scalawags at batugan na prosecutors!!
Sa kaso naman ni Jessie, naawa ako sa pamilya nya. Hindi ko alam ang buong istorya nya at sya ay wala na ngayon, kaya lang hindi pa rin maalis sa isip ko na isa sya sa mga bumaril sa mga biktima.
Ganoon talaga ang mga hired guns. Pagdating sa dulo, sa dami ng nalalaman mo, kahit anong loyalty mo sa amo mo, itutumba ka rin. Ganyan ang nangyari sa kakilala kong professional killer. Malakas ang sinasandalan dahil politiko ang amo. Kung buhay pa siya ngayon sana ay isa sa pinakamakapangyarihan ngayon ang amo niya. Kaso, sa dami ng “trinabaho” niya, naglaho na lang na parang bula, may nagtimbre na ginawang pataba ng lupa sa Cavite.
Dumating sa panahong kailangang “maglinis” ng amo, pati mga alaga, pinararampa.
Here are the two articles I did for VERA Files from the interview with Jessie last March that give a glimpse of his life under the Ampatuans.
The long arm of the ampatuans
http://verafiles.org/main/focus/the-long-arm-of-the-ampatuans/
Ampatuans will miss Pacquiao-Clottey match
http://verafiles.org/main/focus/ampatuans-will-miss-pacquiao-clottey-match/
Jessie for a while was part of the solution as a member of the “cleaners” for the Ampatuans. After being used and the going gets tough and hot, he became part of the problem, and so somebody “solved” him.
That’s actually the norm in the world he chose to live. In his world, nobody is assured the safety of their lives. Events are unpredictable, anytime you can became a target or a suspect and before you know it and say your goodbyes, you’re gone.
Bawat clandestine activity, kahit sa gobyerno ganyan din. Kapag pinakinabangan na ang asset at marami nang nalalaman tungkol sa bawat operasyon kailangan na ‘yan i-dissolve.
Silencing is the proper and best option.
Lalo pa kaya sa underground and kriminal na katulad ng mga Amputangnang’yan na napakadami ng naging utang sa bayan. Hayup kasi ang patrong babaeng askal. Sa tindi ng rabies, ‘andaming nasira at nadamay.
I-terminate ang dapat na term.
Kaya ‘yung mga intelligence asset na sobrang abusado, baka akala ninyo wala ng katapusan ang mundo para sa inyo. Isip lang mga ‘igan.
its about time court decision is based on truth and justice, and not based on lies, money and influence. with this basis, the mapatuans will surely be convicted and executed soon. In China, criminals are convicted and executed within 6 months. Efficient justice system is the hallmark of a great nation.TRUTH is the cornerstone of true justice.
this may seem barbaric pero ang mga nakapatay ng tao dapat pugotan ng ulo..ang mga nagnakaw dapat putulin ang mga kamay..para hindi na maulit ang kasalanan…
Lilia de Lima could start her term by firing corrupt judges and prosecutors, and disbarring corrupt lawyers . To show she is determined to clean the justice system.
Corrupt judges, prosecutors and lawyers were the worst enemies of the people.
It is time DOJ reclaim its lost honor and damaged integrity.
Kaya ba niyang ipakulong si Gloria Arroyo at kanyang alipores?
Safe ang isang witness kung mapapasailalim ng proteksyon ni de Lima. Nakita ko mismo kung paano bantayan ng dalawang van ng mga sampung police escorts yung isang bata na naglalaro sa playground sa loob ng McDonald’s hanggang sa makakain at umalis. Yung bata pala ay witness sa holdup/massacre nung RCBC branch sa Science Park sa Sta. Rosa at papunta noon yung bata sa hearing. Yung Revo na sinakyan nung bata at babaeng caretaker niya ay may tatak na CHR.
Bagay talaga si de Lima sa DOJ.
Bakit kayang magbigay ng Commission on Human Rights nang ganoong proteksiyon samantalang ang DOJ mismo ay hindi? Dahil ayaw? O yung kriminal ang pino-proteksyunan?
Tongue,
Mga kriminal kasi ‘yung dating security force ng DOJ, kaya sa katulad din lamang nilang kriminal sila nagbibigay ng proteksyon, di ba?
Kriminal din kasi ang nagpapasuweldo sa kanila, eh.