Agra may reconsider after witness emerges — Palace

The emergence of a new witness linking two Ampatuan clan members to the massacre of 57 people in Maguindanao last November 23 may prompt acting Justice Secretary Alberto Agra to reconsider his order clearing them of the murder charges, Malacañang said on Sunday. Deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar said Agra had kept an open mind on the matter, to the point of setting up a committee to review his ruling. "That may be new evidence. People should expect Secretary Agra to consider [the evidence] during the review," Olivar said on government-run dzRB radio. But the first step is to check the credibility of the witness, who had supposedly linked detained Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Zaldy Ampatuan and Akmad Ampatuan to the planning of the election-related bloodbath. At least 57 people were killed in the massacre, 32 of them journalists. Earlier this month, Agra absolved the two Ampatuans of murder charges, prompting protests from state prosecutors and relatives of the victims. But a new witness surfaced over the weekend claiming that Akmad and Zaldy were among those who had planned the massacre. “Agra earlier said that if there was new evidence or if someone files a motion for reconsideration with his office, he will consider it. So he’s keeping an open mind on this whole legal issue," Olivar said. Olivar, however, took a dig at political figures using the issue to hit the Arroyo administration. He said the criticisms had not distracted the Quezon City court handling the case. “Hopefully, people will see through that," he added. Earlier on Sunday, Catholic Church leaders pressed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to prove her "innocence" in the controversial decision by firing the Justice chief. Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines co-chairman Mary John Mananzan and Solidarity Philippines convenor Jose Dizon made the call after citing public outrage Agra’s ruling had triggered. "Yes, she must fire him to prove that he does not approve of his actions," Mananzan said in an article posted on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines news Website. Dizon added that dismissing Agra would be the only saving grace for Mrs. Arroyo to escape growing public anger. "[Arroyo] must now relieve Agra to save herself from the people’s wrath," he said. The call came after relatives of the massacre victims asked the Integrated Bar of the Philippines to disbar Agra over his decision. Earlier, the National Union of People’s Lawyers accused the President of having a hand in the decision. The lawyers also called on Agra to consider quitting since his actions have supposedly damaged the Justice department. Malacañang has ordered Agra to justify his ruling to drop the multiple murder charges against Zaldy and Akmad Ampatuan. On the other hand, Dizon and Mananzan said they also support the growing chorus for Agra’s resignation. "He should really quit because he made such an unjust, unfair and dangerous decision," Mananzan said. "He should be kicked out since he used his position for the miscarriage of justice. What a shame," Dizon added. — NPA, GMANews.TV