DOJ chief tags Ampatuan emissaries in bribe tries on 2 witnesses

(Updated 2:40 p.m.) Emissaries from the Ampatuan clan have reportedly attempted to bribe witnesses at least two times — one of which involved P5 million — to recant their testimonies regarding the Maguindanao massacre, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said on Tuesday. At a news briefing after a case conference on the November 23 incident, De Lima said she had ordered those concerned to immediately file a case against those who made the two bribe attempts, one of which involved a P5-million offer. "There were certain attempts to bribe certain witnesses. Ang sabi ko mag-file na ng kaso against those who are attempting to bribe," De Lima said, adding that the incident occurred "weeks ago." While she did not name anyone, she hinted that the emissary had enlisted the help of an "officer.'' She did not identify whether the officer was from the Philippine National Police (PNP) or the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), which handles the custody of members of the Ampatuan clan, prime suspects in what is considered as the country’s most gruesome, single-day, election-related violence. The other bribe attempt also involved "millions," De Lima said, adding that an affidavit is being readied for the P5-million attempt. She declined to divulge further details because the information she would give might be "telegraphed" to the suspects. The powerful Ampatuan clan of Maguindanao province are widely perceived to be masterminds of the carnage that claimed 57 lives, 32 of whom are journalists. The Ampatuans have denied involvement in the killings. Last June, a would-be witness and self-confessed gunman Suwaib Upham was killed. 'Intimidation' De Lima spearheaded Tuesday's massacre case conference, which was attended by members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation. A separate conference with members of the Armed Forces will be held in the coming days, the Justice chief added. Among subjects to be tackled include cases of supposed intimidation committed by Ampatuan clan members against some police officers in Maguindanao also detained at the Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City. "Hindi naman daw nagkakasama-sama with the Ampatuans, but there are reports na naa-access sila and therefore naiintimidate and worse, may attempts to entice them through foul means," said De Lima. (The local police officers supposedly weren’t together with the Ampatuans but reports indicate that they were accessed and intimidated and worse, there were attempts to entice them through foul means.) She likewise wanted some of the suspects, such as the local policemen linked to the massacre, transferred to a separate detention facility like the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City. "Gusto sana naming ipalipat sila sa PNP Custodial Center, along with a few others, to insulate them. There is always the danger na ma-access sila [ng mga Ampatuan]," said De Lima. She added she had spoken with PNP deputy director general Jefferson Soriano and Supreme Court administrator and spokesperson Jose Midas Marquez to revoke a court circular barring more detainees at the PNP Custodial Center. — Sophia M. Dedace, RJAB Jr., RSJ, GMANews.TV