Prosecution wants Arroyo to stand as ‘hostile witness’ in Ampatuan trial

A lawyer representing some of the victims in the November 23 Maguindanao massacre on Tuesday asked the local court handling the multiple murder case to summon former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, in an effort to prove her link to the Ampatuan clan, some of whose members are on trial for the killings. Lawyer Harry Roque on Tuesday manifested before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 his request to summon former President Arroyo as a “hostile witness" for the civil aspect of the multiple murder trial against Andal Ampatuan Jr. “Dapat ibalik ito kay Arroyo, dahil hindi ito mangyayari kundi dahil sa kanya. Kailangang patunayan na (This case should blow back to Arroyo, because it wouldn’t have happened if not for her. We need to prove that) the impunity of the massacre cannot be committed if not for her link to the Ampatuans," he told GMANews.TV in am interview after Tuesday’s pre-trial proceedings. Roque added that the prosecution can use Arroyo’s testimony as “basis to award exemplary damages." “Ibig sabihin lang nito, maaari itong magsilbing ehemplo sa iba para hindi na mangyari ulit (It simply means, we can make this an example for others so it won’t happen again)," he said. Earlier this month, the defense camp listed Arroyo, now a member of the Lower House representing Pampanga’s second district, among its witnesses. The defense later dropped her name from the list. (See: Arroyo dropped as Ampatuan defense witness) It was during the Arroyo administration when 57 people, including more than 30 media personnel, were killed in a massacre in Ampatuan town last November 30. The grisly killing was allegedly masterminded by the powerful Ampatuan clan, who were then known as allies of the former president. (See: The Ampatuan Massacre: a map and timeline) During Tuesday’s proceedings, the local court also scheduled the trial proper of the multiple murder case on September 1 — almost exactly ten months after the massacre. At least 197 individuals, including prominent members of the Ampatuan clan, supposed militiamen and members of the local police, are charged with 57 counts of multiple murder in relation to the November 23 killings. Andal Jr. and more than 20 of his co-accused have pleaded not guilty of the charges, even as more than 130 of the suspects remain at large.—JV, GMANews.TV