‘Andal Jr. being manipulated,’ LP says

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., the primary suspect in the gruesome November 23 massacre in Maguindanao, was told to endorse the presidential candidacy of Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino to taint the latter's reputation, Liberal Party officials said Wednesday. Former Senate President and LP chairman Franklin Drilon, who is seeking to return to the chamber, said it was "most unusual" that Andal Jr. was allowed to hold a press conference at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City where he is currently detained. [See: Andal Jr. backs Noynoy-Mar but LP bet says 'no thanks'] "When you are under detention, you cannot talk to the press without the consent of your jailers," said Drilon, a former justice secretary. "In this particular case, it is quite obvious that Ampatuan is being manipulated; may nag-uutos, may nago-orchestrate nito (there's someone ordering him, someone orchestrating this)," he said at a news conference here. Drilon, however, stopped short of saying who he suspects is orchestrating the supposed endorsement. Aquino, who had earlier rejected the endorsement, said Andal Jr. looked like he was holding a press conference in a "country club," as he noted that it was difficult to even interview detained former military officers Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Brigadier General Danny Lim. Lim is running for senator under the LP and is also being endorsed by former President Joseph Estrada's Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino. Rivals behind endorsement? Aquino said he suspects his political rivals were behind the endorsement, but likewise refused to give names. "Titignan niyo kung sino may motivation at sino makikinabang dun (Consider who has the motivation and who will benefit from it)," he said in the same press conference. "Kung ako talagang kino-court ko yung mga Ampatuan, napaka-naive ko naman na isipin na pag-inendorse ako makakatulong ho sa akin yan (If I'm really courting the Ampatuans, I must be very naive to think that my candidacy will be boosted by their endorsement)," he said. Drilon said the LP is rejecting all endorsements from the Ampatuans. "I would rather lose votes than get votes from those who are suspected of having been responsible for the massacre in Maguindanao," Drilon said. Prior to his announcement that he was endorsing Aquino and LP running mate Senator Mar Roxas, Andal Jr. was spotted wearing an orange baller ID band. Orange is the political color of Aquino's closest rival, Senator Manuel Villar Jr. In his press conference, Andal Jr. said he originally planned to back Villar but consultations with his father and siblings changed his decision. Andal Jr. is the primary suspect in the killing of 57 people in Ampatuan town last November 23. Over two dozen of those killed were media practitioners. The Ampatuans are known allies of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo until the massacre. Many members of the clan have since been detained, although Justice Secretary Alberto Agra recently ordered the dropping of murder charges against two members, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Governor Zaldy Ampatuan and Maguindanao Vice Governor Akmad Ampatuan. — RSJ/KBK, GMANews.TV