Fear stopped witness from warning Mangudadatu on massacre

UPDATED 1:45 p.m. - A Maguindanao councilman, one of the accused in Ampatuan massacre case, said fear prevented him from warning his distant relatives, the Mangudadatus, about the looming danger. Mohamad Sangki, councilman of Datu Abdullah Sangki town, said "Hindi ko kaya sabihin kay Toto kasi kapag nalaman ng mga Ampatuan, papagalitan ako (I did not dare tell Toto because the Ampatuans would get mad at me.) Defense counsel Paris Real, the one who asked Sangki why he did not warn the Mangudadatus, asked the court to put on record how the witness answered in a "fidgety and mumbling" manner. Maguindanao Governor Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu's wife and sisters were among the 57 people killed in November last year. A 58th victim, a photojournalist, is still missing. On November 23, 2009, the people in the Mangudadatu convoy were on their way to file the candidacy of then gubernatorial candidate Mangudadatu, a political rival of the Ampatuans. A total of 57 people were killed in the massacre, including more than 30 journalists, aides, and motorists who were mistakenly identified as part of the convoy. Distant relatives Sangki said he could not exactly tell how he is related to the Mangudadatus but said they were his "distant relatives." Sangki first testified in the Ampatuan multiple murder trial 11 months ago. On Wednesday, during his cross examination, Sangki reiterated his testimony on January 27 that he learned about the plan to block the ill-fated from Talembo Masukat, a councilman of Mamasapano town. According to Sangki, Masukat, allegedly upon orders from Mamasapano mayor Bahnarin Ampatuan, deployed 12 members of an auxiliary unit near a checkpoint at Crossing Saniag in Sitio Masalay on November 19. Bahnarin, a co-accused in the multiple murder trial, is the grandson of clan patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr. and nephew of prime suspect Andal Ampatuan Jr. Sangki said he did not inform the Mangudadatus about this incident because he did not want the Ampatuans to question his loyalty. Sangki said, "I am afraid of them (Ampatuans) until now." During the cross examination, Sangki explained that he was now testifying in court not only to tell the truth but he also to be discharged from the case. When they went to separate checkpoints at Sitios Malating and Masalay on the day of the massacre, Sangki said he was with Andal Ampatuan Jr., the prime suspect in the massacre, and the witness's nephew Rasul Sangki. The witness claimed that he did not join Rasul and Andal Jr. in going up a hilly portion of Sitio Masalay where the victims where killed. Sangki said he was instructed to stay inside a vehicle at the checkpoint at Crossing Saniag, from where he heard the continuous firing. Rasul testified in January how he saw Andal Jr. led the shooting of the victims. Three policemen Before Sangki's cross examination, defense lawyer Marlon Pagaduan submitted to the court several affidavits claiming that three policemen accused in the case were not at the checkpoint were the victims were stopped on the day of the massacre. According to Pagaduan, SPO1 Oscar Donato and PO1 Michael Madsig were at the Maguindanao provincial headquarters on the day of the carnage, while PO1 Abdullah Baguadatu had been staying in Cotabato City since November 20. Pagaduan presented a document showing that Baguadatu made a transaction at a pawnshop owned by a certain Lorraine Villavicencio in Cotabato City on November 23. Thirteen policemen subscribed to the affidavits to prove that they themselves did not see their three colleagues at the checkpoint on November 23. Pagaduan said the new affidavits were meant to support the three cops' petition that their murder case be dismissed. Pagaduan prepared the affidavits after Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes on October 20 denied the three lawmen's motion for the determination of probable cause. – VVP, GMANews.TV