Arroyo dropped as Ampatuan defense witness

The defense panel in the Ampatuan multiple murder case has decided to strike off former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from their list of probable witnesses. Defense lawyer Marlon Pagaduan, representing several accused policemen in the Maguindanao massacre, belittled the move, stressing that Arroyo's exclusion is "not material" to the defense. What matters more are other aspects of the case like the stipulation of facts, synopses, and other "issues" of the case, all of which would be presented at the pre-trial on August 17, Pagaduan said after the case conference at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 on Wednesday. The camp of prime suspect Andal Ampatuan Jr. earlier said that Arroyo — who is now a member of the Lower House representing Pampanga's second district — and a number of her former officials would be tapped as witnesses in the case. "Pero hindi naman kasi porket sinabi na kasama sa list ay sigurado nang ipapatawag (Just because we say someone’s on the list doesn't mean it’s certain that she’ll be summoned). It's tentative and not final," Pagaduan told GMANews.TV over the phone. Asked why the defense decided to do without Arroyo, Pagaduan said he didn't know because he only represented policemen from Maguindanao who are co-accused in the crime, and not the Ampatuans. "[Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes] did not ask why. A judge does not ask why a witness is being dropped. Ampatuan's lawyers just said they were withdrawing Mrs. Arroyo, and the judge allowed it," Pagaduan said. However, prosecution lawyer Nena Santos said she was still interested to find out why the defense made the move. "We just wonder why they had to remove her from the list. Baka pinagalitan (Someone must have scolded them)," Santos told GMANews.TV in a separate interview. Santos said she has learned from former Justice Secretary Agens Devandera what Arroyo's reaction was when she learned the defense wanted her to take the witness stand. "Sabi niya, galit na galit daw and dating presidente [Devanadera said Arroyo was so mad]." Santos said the pre-trial would give the accused a last chance to change their not-guilty plea and enter into a plea bargain. But she said she didn’t know whether there would be some who might reverse their pleas. The lawyers said the multiple murder case would go into the trial proper after the pre-trial, which is scheduled to be held at the Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City. At least 197 individuals, some of them from the powerful Ampatuan clan while others are supposed militiamen and members of the local police, are charged with 57 counts of multiple murder. Andal Jr. and more than 20 of his co-accused have pleaded guilty of the charges, even as more than 130 of the suspects remain at large.—Mark D. Merueñas/JV, GMANews.TV