Mangudadatu walks out of Ampatuan murder hearing

(Updated 10:01 a.m.) Buluan town Vice Mayor Ismael “Toto" Mangudadatu walked out of the court hearing multiple murder charges against his rival Andal Ampatuan, Jr. on Wednesday, saying he could not bear to hear a witness account of the November 23 massacre in Maguindanao. Speaking to radio dzMM, Mangudadatu said it was painful to hear Ampatuan town Vice Mayor Rasul Sangki describe how his wife, two sisters and 54 more people were slaughtered in the southern province. "Siyempre, tao lang naman din tayo. Nalulungkot tayo pag nakikita natin, naririnig yung sinasaad ng witness kung ano yung ginawa ni Unsay [Andal Jr.] (I’m only human. I am saddened when I see and hear the witness describing what Andal Jr. did)," Mangudadatu said after walking out of the trial inside the National Police headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City. In a separate interview on radio dzBB, Mangudadatu said Sangki would testify for the prosecuting panel. Sangki earlier claimed that he had witnessed the killing and that he overheard former Maguindanao Governor and clan patriarch Andal Ampatuan, Sr. reminding his son Andal Jr. of what to do with the Mangudadatus, their rival political clan. In his affidavit, Sangki said Andal Jr. radioed his father after receiving information from Police Inspector Sukarno Dicay, former deputy chief of the Maguindanao Provincial Police Office, that the Mangudadatu convoy led by Ismael's wife had been intercepted in Sitio Malating. Andal Jr. even asked Dicay if anybody in the convoy was armed, to which Dicay replied in the negative and said they were mostly women. Dicay has denied involvement in the killings. "Father, they're already here," Andal Jr. allegedly told his father. "Son, you already know what you must do," came Andal Sr's supposed reply. Sangki also said Andal Jr. had shot the victims himself, point-blank. "Then [he] started shooting the victims as soon as they were brought in front of him. Some were already on their knees, crying and shouting for mercy," Sangki said. "In fact, one media known to Datu Unsay who fondly called him 'Pal-ak' pleaded for his life but still, [Andal Jr.] shot him to death," Sangki added, referring to Jimmy Cabillo of the Midland Review, who was one of the 31 journalists killed on November 23. As of posting time, the hearing being held at the Police Non-Commissioned Officers Club House was still ongoing. Journalists were barred from documenting the trial using video and still cameras, and audio recorders. Another witness Wednesday's hearing will tackle Ampatuan's petition for bail. The mayor faces at least 41 multiple murder charges, to which he pleaded not guilty last week. [See: Andal Jr. pleads not guilty to multiple murder charges] Prosecution lawyer Pete Principe said they would present Karen Araneta, widow of dzRH reporter Henry Araneta, one of the 57 massacre victims. At least 31 of those killed in the November 23 bloodbath were journalists. Principe said the widow would testify that Henry had sent her a text message shortly before the massacre, saying he feared for his life because the local military had refused to provide them security. — Sophia Dedace/RSJ/NPA, GMANews.TV