Mindanao bishop blames Arroyo for exoneration of 2 Ampatuans

A Mindanao bishop blamed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Wednesday for the exoneration of two Ampatuan clan members from the November 23 Maguindanao massacre. Cotabato Auxiliary Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo said Justice Secretary Alberto Agra, who issued the decision, cannot act without clearance from Mrs. Arroyo. “Hindi naman maaaring kumilos ang isang tauhan kung walang kautusan ng kanyang amo (The official cannot act without clearance from his boss)," Bagaforo said in an interview on Church-run Radio Veritas, excerpts of which were posted on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines news site. Last weekend, Agra dropped multiple murder charges against suspended Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan and Mamasapano Mayor Akmad Ampatuan. Malacañang said Mrs. Arroyo is reviewing Agra's decision, even as deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar said Mrs. Arroyo will not base her decision on what is popular. Relatives of the massacre victims assailed Agra's decision and asked the Quezon City regional trial court to defer the hearings until a new president is elected. Bagaforo echoed the sentiments of various sectors against the decision, adding that the DOJ should have just let due process take over instead of meddling with it. “Hindi dapat mabibigyan ng desisyon yan hangga’t hindi pa napapakinggan ang lahat ng mga witnesses. Dapat hindi pa gumawa ng desisyon dahil kulang pa ang mga ebidensiyang ipinakita (Agra should not have issued such a decision without hearing the witnesses and seeing all the evidence)," he said. - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV