Ampatuans, others charged with graft, money laundering

Relatives of journalists killed during the Nov. 23, 2009 Maguindanao massacre filed on Thursday money laundering complaints against the powerful Ampatuan clan — whose members are the principal suspects in the carnage — as well as charges of graft and corruption against individuals led by former presidential adviser on Mindanao affairs Jesus Dureza. In a six-page complaint filed with the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the relatives said they want the investigation and prosecution of personalities involved in the massacre for violating provisions of Republic Act 9160 or the Anti-Money Laundering act of 2001 and RA 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. Named respondents were former Maguindanao Gov. Datu Andal Ampatuan Sr., former Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan, Mindanao Development Authority chairman Jesus Dureza, Ampatuan spiritual adviser Ustadz Farid Adas, former ARMM solicitor general Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi and her husband Omar Sayadi, and Ampatuan lawyer Philip Pantojan. The petitioners were Ma. Cipriana Gatchalian (wife of slain Santos Gatchalian Jr. of Davao-based Metro Gazette); Catherine Nuñez (mother of UNTV reporter Victor Nuñez); Zenaida Duhay (mother of Jose Duhay of Gold Star Daily in Tacurong City); Mary Jean Merisco (wife of Rey Merisco of Periodico Ini in Koronadal City); Glenna Legarta (wife of Bienvenido Legarta Jr. of Periodico Ini in Koronadal City); Editha Tiamzon (wife of Daniel Tiamzon of UNTV); Juliet Evardo (mother of UNTV editor Jolito Evardo); Myrna Reblando (wife of Alejandro Reblando of Manila Bulletin in General Santos City); Noime Parcon (wife of Joel Parcon of Prontiera News in Koronadal City); and Erlyn Idalo Umpad (mother of the minor child of UNTV's McDelbert Arriola. The case stemmed from the testimony in court of a former aide of Andal Sr. Lakmodin Saliao — a former personal assistant of Andal Sr. turned prosecution witness — on Sept. 8 told the Quezon City Regional Trial Court that the Ampatuans were directly behind the worst political violence in Philippine history, where 57 people including journalists were brutally gunned down. He testified that during a meeting among Andal Sr., Andal Jr., Pantojan, Sayadi, and Dr. Tahil Sulay, a conspiracy was hatched to cover the participation of Andal Sr. as well as an alternative plan for the clan patriarch to evade arrest. Saliao testified that based on the plan, the health condition of Andal Sr. was faked so that on Dec. 4, the former governor was able to flee the family mansion via an ambulance. Saliao also told the court that on March 11 Andal Sr. ordered that P10 million be given to Dureza so that the separate rebellion charges against the clan would be dismissed. Then on Sept. 16, Andal Sr. who was by then detained at Camp Panacan gave away P386 million to his supporters to bribe government witnesses and tamper with pieces of evidence related to the massacre, Saliao said in his testimony. Saliao said he personally counted P36 million in cash that Andal Sr. had ordered him to get from Adas and Omar Sayadi. The petitioners said that the causes of actions committed by the respondents violated the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and RA 7080 or the Anti-Plunder Act. Lawyer Harry Roque of the Roque & Butuyan law offices, representing the victims’ relatives, pointed out that Section 4 of the anti-money laundering law defined money laundering as a crime whereby proceeds of an unlawful activity are transacted in such a way that makes it appear that the money comes from legitimate sources. "Any person knowing that any monetary instrument or property represents, involves, or relates to, the proceeds of any unlawful activity, transacts or attempts to transact said monetary instrument or property," Roque stated in the petition. The respondents knew that the monetary instrument or property involved the proceeds of an unlawful activity and performed an act facilitating the offense of money laundering, the lawyer added. (See related: AMLC probe on Ampatuan wealth sought) The Maguindanao massacre occurred on the morning of November 23 last year wherein the victims — journalists, supporters, and relatives of then Buluan vice mayor Esmael Mangudadatu — were part of a convoy on the way to Shariff Aguak, the capital town of Maguindanao, to file the certificate of candidacy of Mangudadatu for the gubernatorial seat of Maguindanao. Andal Jr. was also running for governor of Maguindanao in the May 10 polls, which was eventually won by Mangudadatu. Killed in the slaughter were Mangudadatu's wife, his two sisters, journalists, lawyers, aides, and motorists who supposedly witnessed the crime or were mistakenly identified as part of the convoy. At least 198 suspects including Andal Jr., Andal Sr., and other members of the Ampatuan clan have been charged with multiple murder. — VS, GMANews.TV