Palace official open to creating new review panel for Ampatuan decision

A Palace official is open to the idea of creating a separate committee that would review a recent decision dropping murder charges against two members of the Ampatuan clan. Once created, the committee could provide inputs, assistance, or even guidance to Department of Justice Secretary Alberto Agra, Press Undersecretary and Deputy Presidential Spokesman said on Tuesday. The new panel "may invite different resource persons who may help and guide" Agra and the panel of prosecutors "reviewing the resolution," he said. The committee may also provide Agra another opportunity to examine and listen to new evidence and at the same time allow him to explain his decision publicly. On Monday, Agra thumbed down a proposal to create a committee that would review his decision to drop charges against Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governor Zaldy Ampatuan and Mamasapano mayor Akhmad Ampatuan Peyuan added that Agra and the panel of prosecutors handling the Maguindanao massacre case had initially been instructed to review the decision. Besides asking Agra’s critics to refrain from personal attacks, he also said that those questioning his credibility should bring it to proper fora such as the Commission on Appointments (CA). - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV