Andal Jr. wanted entire convoy killed – witness

(Updated 4:00 p.m.) A longtime household helper of the Ampatuan clan testified on Wednesday that he was present at the meeting where Andal Ampatuan Jr. allegedly broached the idea of killing the group who would file the certificate of candidacy (COC) for governor of his political rival Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu. Lakmodin Saliao, the first witness presented by the prosecution during the trial on Wednesday, said the meeting was allegedly held over dinner at the mansion of suspended ARMM Governor Zaldy Ampatuan on November 17, 2009, six days before the Maguindanao massacre took place. Saliao said Andal Sr., the clan patriarch and former Maguindanao governor, told those gathered in the mansion in Shariff Aguak town the purpose of the meeting in the Maguindanaon language: "Kaya tayo nandito lahat ay para pag-usapan pano pigilin si Toto sa pag-file ng COC sa Maguindanao." (We are here to discuss how to stop Toto from filing his COC in Maguindanao) Saliao testified that Andal Jr., the son of Andal Sr., replied, "Madali lang yan, ama, patayin sila lahat kapag dumating dito." (That's easy, father. Let's kill them all when they get here) The witness claimed that "ama" refers to the patriarch of the Ampatuan clan, Andal Sr. Saliao gave his testimony during the multiple murder trial for the death of 57 people including Mangudadatu's wife, his two sisters, journalists, lawyers, aides, and innocent motorists, on November 23, 2009. The convoy was waylaid in Ampatuan town in Maguindanao province while it was on its way to file the COC for Mangudadatu, now the incumbent governor, who did not join the group because of threats on his life. According to Saliao, those present during the November 17 meeting were the relatives of Andal Sr. and supporters of the Ampatuan clan in Maguindanao. Saliao, who claimed to have been a helper of the Ampatuan for 18 years, said he was at the meeting to help serve the food of the clan patriarch and his guests. The witness also mentioned the names of more than 20 people, mostly belonging to the Ampatuan clan. He said while the Ampatuans were hatching their plan, he was "in front of Andal Sr. and there were times that our bodies touched." The relatives and supporters who were at the meeting allegedly agreed to Andal Jr.'s suggestion to kill everyone in the convoy. "Kung iyan ang napag-usapan, kailangan planuhin mabuti para hindi tayo mabisto," Saliao quoted suspended Autonomous Region in Muslin Midanao governor Zaldy Ampatuan as telling everyone in the meeting. Another meeting In another meeting on November 22, a day before the massacre, the Ampatuans allegedly finalized their plans. "Kung iyan ang final decision na patayin sila lahat, pupunta ako ng Maynila para hindi halata," the witness quoted Zaldy as saying in that meeting. During the first meeting, Andal Jr volunteered to carry out the carnage, saying he would stop the convoy on the highway. He also advised his relatives not to go with him that day. "Ang gagawin na lang ng iba mag-monitor at tulungan na lang kami kapag kailangan," Saliao quoted the former Datu Unsay town mayor as saying. On November 23, Saliao said he allegedly heard Andal Jr. speak with the clan patriarch over a hand-held radio telling that he [Andal Jr] had already stopped the victims on the road. "Ama, nandito na sila [Father, they are here already]," the witness quoted Andal Jr. as allegedly telling his father. Andal Sr supposedly replied: "Alam mo na ang gagawin mo. Patayin sila lahat pero ikabila mo ang media [You know what to do. Kill them all except the media]." However, Andal Jr. reportedly insisted that everyone in the convoy must be killed: "Hindi ama, lubus-lubusin na natin ito. Ginagawa na naman natin ito. Makakapagsalita pa sila kapag hindi natin sila uubusin." The clan patriarch allegedly replied: "Mabuti (Good)." Moments later, when Andal Jr. reported over mobile phone that he had "finished the job of killing everyone," Andal Sr. allegedly directed his son to return home. Saliao said he heard the conversation on the cellphone because he operated the clan patriarch's phone for him and at that time, he turned the phone on speaker mode. Asked what Andal Sr.'s reaction was upon learning that the victims were all dead, Saliao said the clan patriarch was reportedly "masaya po at ngiti ng ngiti [Happy and all smiles]." Thoughout the three-hour hearing, Andal Jr., who was wearing a yellow prison shirt, remained silent in his seat. Smoking gun Private prosecutor Nena Santos said the prosecution was "off to a good start," saying she considered Saliao's testimony as their "smoking gun." The lawyer said putting Andal Jr. under the care of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would at that time affect "indirectly" the result of the investigation. "Mrs. Arroyo is the most powerful person in the Philippines. What could that mean? All offices of government are under the President. What are you going to do if you find out she is taking good care of Andal Jr.," Santos said. Santos also brushed off criticisms that Saliao's testimony seemed "scripted," saying it was normal for a person who has worked for a family for almost two decades to memorize easily the names of their clan members. "He knew the people for 18 years, since 1987. He almost grew up with the Ampatuans," Santos said. Another private prosecutor, Harry Roque, who represents the families of the 13 slain journalists, was delighted over Saliao's testimony, adding that it "corroborated past testimonies" of witnesses during bail hearings for the case. Prosecution witness Rasul Sangki also claimed earlier that the bloody massacre was the handiwork of the powerful Ampatuan clan. "This is good that this finally happened. It's important that he [Saliao] narrated the involvement of the Ampatuans," he said. Roque expressed hopes that Saliao's statements would have an effect on the separate pending motion of Zaldy Ampatuan before the Court of Appeals. Zaldy earlier asked the appellate court to reverse former Justice Alberto Agra's reinstating him as a respondent in the murder case. "But this [Saliao's statement] is already positive involvement," the lawyer added. After a three-hour partial direct examination of Saliao, Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court granted the prosecution's request to stop the hearing for today and resume on September 15. The prosecution said Saliao already seemed "exasperated." A lttle bit happy Nenita Oquendo, who lost her husband and daughter to the carnage, admitted being pleased with what she had heard from Saliao's testimony. "I am a little bit happy," Oquendo, clad in black, said before leaving the court room inside the headquarters of the National Capital Region Police Office at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City. Roque earlier criticized the defense for allegedly trying to prevent the proceedings from starting, adding that the delays in the trial have already taken their toll on the relatives of the victims who had to travel to Manila all the way from Mindanao just to attend the weekly hearings. Oquendo also said that Andal Sr.'s insistence that his son be taken under the care of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is currently Pampanga congresswoman, was "very bad." — LBG/VVP, GMANews.TV