Ex-househelp said Ampatuans planned to surrender Andal Jr to Gloria Arroyo
Ampatuan gave millions in bribe to officials
by Ces Drilon
ABS-CBN
Saliao was an aide of Andal Ampatuan Sr..
Saliao testified that the Ampatuan family met twice before the massacre, where they discussed how to stop Esmael Mangudadatu from filing his certificate of candidacy for governor of Maguindanao.
Saliao said Ampatuan Sr. asked his family if they agreed with the plan to kill all the people in the Mangudadatu convoy. Saliao recalled that people laughed upon hearing the Ampatuan patriarch’s question, and then agreed to the plan.
Saliao also said former Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao Governor Zaldy Ampatuan approved of the plan, as long as it wouldn’t be traced back to them.
Zaldy Ampatuan has asked the Court of Appeals to remove him as a suspect in the killings.
On the day of the massacre, Saliao said Ampatuan Sr. ordered his son, Andal Jr., not to kill the journalists travelling in the convoy. But Andal Jr. reportedly said everyone needed to be killed so there would be no witnesses left.
Saliao also testified that the day after the massacre, the Ampatuan family planned how Andal Jr would be surrendered to the custody of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and representative Didagen Dilangalen through Presidential Adviser on Mindanao Secretary Jesus Dureza.
The prosecution believes Saliao’s testimony is a smoking gun that directly links the Ampatuans to the crime. But the defense tried to cast doubt on Saliao’s testimony, saying it seemed that Saliao was coached on what to say.
The defense questioned how Saliao could detail the alleged participation of almost 30 members of the Ampatuan clan in the crime. But the prosecution defended Saliao.
“Labing-dalawa yung taon na naninilbihan [siya] sa Ampatuan. Sa tagal niya na kasambahay, kilala niya kahit naka-pikit ang mata niya kilala niya yung mga ‘yon,” Nena Santos, lawyer for the prosecutor said.
Family members of the massacre victims are also happy about Saliao’s testimony.
“Masayang-masaya kami dun sa witness na umupo kanina doon sa witness stand. Kahit nag-iisa lang siya na witness, sapat na para ma-resolba yung kaso,” Monette Salaysay, wife of one of the victims said.
“Sana ito na ang umpisa na mabuksan na talaga ang totoong justice,” Noemi Falcon said.
Lawyer Harry Roque, who represents some of the victims families, said it is important that former President Arroyo be called to testify in the case especially since she was included in Saliao’s testimony.
Prosecution witness Lakmudin Saliao continued on Wednesday his explosive testimony against his former boss, this time tagging the Ampatuan patriarch in a bribery spree to have criminal charges against the members of the family dropped.
During the 2nd day of trial of the Maguindanao massacre case, Saliao said former Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan, Sr. ordered his spiritual adviser to transmit millions of money to several government and police officials to make life easier for his family.
On top of his list is former Presidential Adviser on Mindanao Affairs Jesus Dureza who was allegedly bribed P10 million to have a separate rebellion charge dropped.
The Ampatuans were also slapped with a rebellion case for allegedly disrupting government offices at the height of investigations. The government had implemented martial rule in some parts of Maguindanao to rein in the Ampatuans.
The rebellion case came after the massacre of 57 civilians on November 23. The Ampatuans allegedly masterminded the killings.
The Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 77 quashed the rebellion charges early this year. A motion for reconsideration has yet to be resolved.
Saliao, who directly linked Andal’s son and namesake to the execution of the killings, said Chief Inspector Sukarno Dicay and police officer Rainier Ebus were given P10 million each for them to retract earlier testimonies.
Another P20 million was also given to Maguindanao board member Mike Midtimbang to ensure the family’s welfare while under incarceration.
The Ampatuan patriarch supposedly gave the directives on March 11.
Prior to that, on February 28, Ampatuan Sr. supposedly instructed his spiritual adviser to give P200 million to Umbra Sinsuat, the Ampatuan’s then candidate for the position of Maguindanao governor.
The adviser, known only as Ustaj Sarid Agas, was also ordered to give P36 million to Omar Sayadi, the husband of a Maguindanao administrative officer.
Saliao also revealed that Ampatuan Sr., then under hospital arrest inside a military camp in Panakan, Davao City also ordered a son-in-law working with the Land Transportation Office to tweak the records of cars registered under their names.
Private prosecutors said they will ask the Anti-Money Laundering Council to track the bank records of the Ampatuans.
They will also start the filing of administrative charges against those who supposedly took part in bribing witnesses and families of the victims.
Dureza, however, denied the allegation made by the witness.
In an interview with ANC’s On the Scene, Dureza said he wished the claims were true so that he would be P10 million richer.
“It’s a clear fabrication, if not outright amusing, since it’s on a matter which is totally not in my hands, as the justice department and the courts were in full control after I turned over the custody of Unsay to Secretary [Agnes] Devanadera,” he said in a statement.
“These fabrications are unfair to me as throughout my government career, I have endeavored to act in the most appropriate manner in all my actuations,” he said.
“I wait for my chance to testify and give my side in the Ampatuan case,” he added.
Dureza noted he was first accused of making a deal with the Ampatuans for custody of Andal Jr. “That would have been plausible but totally untrue. Now, I am being accused that I made a deal for the dismissal of the rebellion case for million.”
In jest, he asked: “Come to think of it, will I expect delivery of the millions if, by chance, the rebellion charge is dismissed?”
With this new allegation against him, Dureza said, “Now, I recall with more amusement what my colleagues in the previous Cabinet were ribbing me about the alleged missing Ampatuan funds when the raiding teams found empty vaults.”
“These are all fabrications and which are better threshed out in court when I am called to testify,” he said.
Private prosecutor Nena Santos, representing the Mangudadatus, said the prosecution will be presenting more witnesses that will corroborate the testimony of Saliao.
Speaking to ANC, she said there is enough documentary and video evidence that shows Saliao was working for the Ampatuans at the time of the massacre. She said Saliao personally handled the money that was used to bribe government and police officials upon the instructions of the Ampatuan patriarch.
Santos refused to identify the next prosecution witness due to security reasons. She added that Saliao could be summoned again to the witness stand since only Unsay Jr. is being tried today.
The lawyer said she is preparing a letter asking the Supreme Court to lessen the load of the judge handling the Maguindanao massacre case so that the trial will be finished quickly.
She added that her camp is also preparing charges against the Ampatuans for trying to bribe some of the prosecution witnesses to back out of the case.
“We are still preparing the documents for that. We will be filing the appropriate cases,” she said.
If Dureza indeed accepted Ampatuan Sr’s proposed deal that he would surrender his son on the understanding that Gloria or any of Gloria’s henchmen would look after him, it could only be after Gloria had given her OK.
I don’t believe that Dureza could have acted on his own.
Or taken the initiative to press for the surrender or custody of criminal junior all on his own… not a chance. That’s why, following the surrender to Dureza, Lorelei Fajardo had the gall to face the media declaring loud and clear that Gloria is not the type of person to abandon the Ampatuans because “they are friends” of Gloria’s.
Sanamagan — the shit these people weave! Ampatuans should be hanged drawn and quartered for what they have done — everyone of those who had anything to do with this mass murder.
Saliao must be protected at all cost!
The Ampatuans have shown that up to now, even in prison, their brutal organization is still in place. They killed “Jesse”.
I would not be surprised if there is an order to kill Saliao.
Yes, he should be protected.
The Ampatuans’ will try to silence Saliao to prevent him from telling more infos, but if he tells everything he knows about the crime and of the Ampatuans, the motivation to silence him will no longer be there or will be lessened.
He should actually tell all and recorded on video just in case…
For once, I say, will offer prayers (hoping prayers will be heard) for the safety of this witness.
Just curious… what motivated Mr. Saliao to come out in the open and ratted against his employer of 12 years? I’m sure he knows what will happen to him if he testified against the Ampatuans. I’m pretty sure he knows the consequences the minute he opens his mouth and tell all he knows. He’d be a dead man walking.
Mike,
His conscience? Finally, just got disgusted? Backed by courage?
Knowing the mindset of the Ampatuans, he probably knew he risked getting murdered anyway, so, might as well reveal all.
Anna, it should be under oath if he has more to reveal. I don’t know if a recorded video would be accepted by the courts. The defense will surely try to contest it. “Jesse” said a lot about the crime on TV, but they still silenced him.
#7 Just curious… what motivated Mr. Saliao to come out in the open and ratted against his employer of 12 years? – Mike
Aside from conscience, in his earlier interviews, he said he learned that the Ampatuans suspected him of weakening and ordered that he be eliminated.
Saliao said Ampatuan Sr. asked his family if they agreed with the plan to kill all the people in the Mangudadatu convoy. Saliao recalled that people laughed upon hearing the Ampatuan patriarch’s question, and then agreed to the plan.
Nakakatawa na pala ngayong ang pumatay ng tao… mga halimaw talaga…
Perl, best friends ni Gloria Arroyo yan ha.
#6 AdB: “He should actually tell all and recorded on video just in case…
For once, I say, will offer prayers (hoping prayers will be heard) for the safety of this witness.”
i agree with you AdB…
If this heinous crime happened in other countries likeChina, the ampatuans would have been executed by firing squads within 6 months of the commission of crime, with their families being made to pay for the bullets used in the execution.
On the day of the massacre, Saliao said Ampatuan Sr. ordered his son, Andal Jr., not to kill the journalists travelling in the convoy. But Andal Jr. reportedly said everyone needed to be killed so there would be no witnesses left.
matapos pagbabarilin ang mga tao puwera ang mga taga media ay tumawag si andal jr kay nadal sr ang sabi “ama medya na lang ang natira” ag sagot ni ama bakit ka pa nagtira ng kalahati patayin mo lahat. hindi nagka-intindihan yung mag ama. ang plano talaga wag patayin ang mga taga media dahil puwede naman daw bayaran lahat.
The Ampatuans hired the service of the prominent lawyer for the rich and famous: Atty. Fortun. Iyan din ang abogado ng isang Tsinoy na pumatay sa sister-in-law ko. It’s now 10 years and the case has not been resolved yet. Ang masakit pa, matagal nang malaya ang accused dahil nabigyan ng bail due to his money and influence.
dapat kay sigfrid fortun madisbar na, tinuruan niya ang kanyang kliyente na magsinungaling, that’s unethical conduct, ground for disbarment.