Kin of massacre victims file plunder case vs. Ampatuans

UPDATED 4:30 p.m. - Seven relatives of Maguindanao massacre victims filed on Friday a plunder case against 25 members of the Ampatuan clan, who supposedly plotted the killing of 57 people more than a year ago. The massacre victims' family members, together with lawyer Romel Bagares, filed the complaint against the Ampatuans for violations of the Anti-Plunder Law (Republic Act 7080), the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019) and the Forfeiture Law (RA 1379) before the Office of the Ombudsman at past 2:30 p.m. on Friday. The total amount of the Ampatuan clan’s property in question can reach P200 million, Bagares said. “Nagfile kami ng kasong ito kasi ‘yung ari-arian nila, may presumption na hindi sa pera nila nanggaling iyon. May presumption na ill-gotten wealth ito,"he told reporters in an interview after the filing on Friday. Among the Ampatuan clan’s ill-gotten wealth being questioned in the case are 35 houses in Davao City, a mansion in Shariff Aguak town in Maguindanao, and 56 luxury vehicles, according to Bagares. Named respondents in the case are 25 members of the Ampatuan clan, led by clan patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr. and prime massacre suspect Andal Ampatuan Jr. “While in power, the Ampatuans helped themselves to public money as they gained control of the public coffers in the province. With key members of the clans occupying top positions in all levels of governance in the province—they had the run of everything," the complaint read. The complaint cited data from some of the Ampatuan clan members’ statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN), as well as from various investigative reports, to support the plunder case. [SEE SIDEBAR] Ampatuan’s wealth an ‘insult’ The relatives of the massacre victims who filed the case are: Ramonita Salaysay, Editha Tiamzon, Juliet Evardo, Ma. Cipriana Gatchalian, Arlyn Lupogan, Catherine Nunez and Myrna Reblando. Reblando, wife of slain Manila Bulletin reporter Alejandro “Bong" Reblando, called the Ampatuans’ alleged ill-gotten wealth as an “insult" to the massacre’s victims. “Isang malaking insulto sa amin na habang kami ay naghihirap, sila [Ampatuans] ay patuloy na nabubuhay sa yaman. Ang asawa ko, media. Alam ko ang mga gawain nila," she told GMANews.TV in a separate interview. She added that she hopes the Ombudsman will prioritize their complaint against the Ampatuans. Salaysay, widow of Cotabato City community reporter Napoleon Salaysay, meanwhile said that she wants the Ampatuans’ questionable assets to be frozen. “Hanggat may pera kasi silang nakukuha, bayad lang sila nang bayad. Mabuti na ‘yung wala silang makuha para mabawasan ang kapangyarihan nila," she said in a separate interview. On November 23, 2009, 57 people— including 31 members of the media — were killed while they were on their way to file the candidacy papers of then Buluan Vice Mayor and now Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu. The massacre was allegedly masterminded by Andal Jr., then Datu Unsay mayor, who is currently being tried in a Quezon City court for multiple murder charges. – VVP/JV, GMANews.TV