DOJ: No evidence to link MILF in Maguindanao carnage

The Department of Justice and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) laughed off claims by detained Datu Unsay, Maguindanao Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. that the secessionist group was behind the mass slaughter of 57 people that elicited worldwide condemnation. In a radio interview Friday, Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera said none of the statements they have gathered from witnesses so far have pointed to MILF commander Ameril Umbra Kato as Ampatuan had claimed. "Alam mo, nandoon ako. Medyo ako natawa dahil sa statement wala kaming nakitang Umbra Kato-Umbra Kato (I was there when the mayor told reporters Umbra Kato was involved. I nearly laughed because none of the statements we gathered so far pointed to Umbra Kato)," Devanadera said in an interview on dzRH radio. She said the mayor's lawyer, who was with him when he made the claim Thursday night at the NBI, had to stop him. Lawyer Sigfrid Fortun had been earlier named as Ampatuan Jr.'s counsel. "Buti huminto na sa pagsagot, baka ano pa sabihin niya. Pinahinto siya ng abogado (Good thing he stopped there because he might have made some wild claims. His lawyer stopped him from talking)," she said. Early Thursday evening at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) where Ampatuan Jr. was brought to from General Santos City, the prime suspect on the November 23 massacre in Ampatuan town pointed to the MILF as the ones responsible for the slaughter. [See: Ampatuan detained at NBI, blames MILF for massacre] "Napakadali para magbintang. Dapat may ebidensya. Wala akong kasalanan. Ang may kasalanan ay [si] MILF [Commander] Umbra Kato (It's so easy to accuse someone. There should be evidence. I'm innocent. The culprits are with MILF's Umbra Kato)," he told newsmen in a short interview while inside the NBI detention facility. "Mga terorista ang mga iyon e (They are terrorists)," Ampatuan Jr. stressed, claiming that he was at the municipal hall when the massacre happened on Monday morning. Rogue MILF commanders Kato was one of the rogue MILF commanders linked to attacks in some areas in Mindanao last year, after the Supreme Court junked a memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain. MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu similarly laughed off Ampatuan's claims, saying Kato does not operate in Ampatuan town where the massacre occurred. Kabalu said Kato's unit operates mainly in Datu Piang and Kabuntalan in Maguindanao, and in Libungan, Midsayap and Aleosan in North Cotabato. "Di na hahantong sa idawit ang MILF sa barbaric act na ito. Malinaw na malinaw ang pangyayari at saka I believe ongoing ang thorough investigation ng gobyerno (I don't think the MILF will be dragged into this barbaric act. What happened was clear and I believe the government's thorough investigation is still ongoing)," he said in an interview on dzXL radio. "Huwag natin patulan ito, another panlilinlang ito siguro (We will not dignify this attempt to mislead investigators)," he added. Witnesses coming out Devanadera said more witnesses are now coming out, and more are expected to surface after they saw how Ampatuan was arrested and detained. She also maintained the DOJ can beat the 36-hour deadline - which lapses before dawn Saturday - to file multiple murder charges against Ampatuan Jr. for the massacre. "Napakaganda ng ebidensyang nakuha namin (Our evidence is good). This time we have more witnesses than expected, they started to come out. The message is sent, they saw we were able to incarcerate the mayor, I believe we will have more witnesses," she said. Devanadera also disclosed there were at least 24 media representatives who were among the 57 killed. Initial reports had indicated only 12 media members killed. Meanwhile, Devanadera said a witness who surfaced and was interviewed on Al-Jazeera television matched the testimonies given by other witnesses they had interviewed. "Napakinggan ko siya. Ang statements niya parehong pareho sa statement ng isa naming hawak. Nakamaskara siya di ko alam kung siya yan pero pareho (I heard the interview. The statements matched those of witnesses we interviewed. But the one in the TV interview was masked, so I am not sure if he is one of the witnesses we already interviewed)," she said. The Al-Jazeera report quoted the witness, who it identified only as Boy, as saying Mayor Ampatuan ordered the killing of all those in the convoy. In the convoy were the wife and supporters of Buluan town Vice Mayor Ismael "Toto" Mangudadatu. Also in the convoy were journalists who were to witness the filing of candidacy of Mangudadatu for governor of Maguindanao. The COC was to be filed by Mangudadatu's wife on his behalf. - RSJ/GMANews.TV