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Zaldy Ampatuan willing to testify vs kin in massacre case


(Updated 9:36 p.m.) Suspended Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan is willing to turn state witness in the Maguindanao massacre case even if it means testifying against his father and brothers who are also implicated in the crime. "Kahit sinong matamaan, basta pawang katotohanan lamang, handa ako," Zaldy said in an interview with GMA News reporter Joseph Morong at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, where the suspects and the accused in the massacre case are detained. The interview was conducted two weeks ago, but Zaldy's lawyer requested for an indefinite embargo, which was suddenly ended Monday, July 11. GMA News, ABS-CBN News, and Al Jazeera all conducted interviews with Zaldy Ampatuan about his desire to turn state witness. Contrary to claims by ABS-CBNNews.com, theirs was not an exclusive interview. "Kahit sinong tatamaan sa impormasyong meron ako na pawang katotohanan lamang. Wala na akong pakialam kahit sinong magalit, nasira na [ang] buhay ko. Gusto ko mabigyan ng pagkakataon na maituwid ng tama. Di na ako takot," Zaldy added. Fifty-seven people, including 32 journalists, were killed in the Nov. 23, 2009 massacre in Ampatuan town in Maguindanao province. It was considered the worst case of political violence in the country's history, as well as journalism's greatest loss of life anywhere in a single day. Also implicated in the case are Zaldy's father, Andal Sr., and brothers Andal Jr. and Sajid, as well as members of the clan's private army.

Ready vs everyone Zaldy said that since several of the accused have already been arraigned, their lawyers should now be allowed to defend them. But he said he is ready to tell the truth and testify against whomever is involved in this heinous crime – be it his father, brothers or any of the accused. “Yung mga ibang akusado naka-arraign na, ang kaso nila pinapakinggan na sa korte, hayaan na lang natin yung mga abodado nila na idepensa ang kanilang mga kliyente na akusado rin sa krimen na ito," he said. “Yung tatay ko, yung kapatid ko, yung ibang akusado dinidinig na ang kanilang kaso sa korte. Kahit sino pa man na-involve sa krimen na ito na karumal-dumal. Kahit sino pa ang matatamaan, handa ako," he reiterated. Zaldy has yet to be arraigned before the special court hearing the massacre case because of a pending case before the Court Appeals seeking to strike his name from the list of 197 people charged with 57 counts of murder. Meanwhile, private prosecutor Nena Santos, lawyer of Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu, who lost his wife and two sisters in the massacre, said they are still confirming reports that Zaldy has changed affiliation in the case. "That is already in the news but we have not yet received direct confirmation," she told GMA News Online on Monday. Another prosecution lawyer, Harry Roque, said they don't need Zaldy as their witness. "We don't need him because his testimony will be unreliable and unbelievable. Also, his stand on the issue is flimsy," he said. In a separate interview, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima echoed Roque's stand. "As things now stand, we don't need him [Zaldy]. We don't need him for a successful prosecution," De Lima said. At the same time, De Lima said it would be unlikely that Zaldy will be made state witness because he is among the prime suspects. "The public prosecutors cannot just enter into any deal especially with respect to [Zaldy's] possible discharge as a state witness," she said. Family feud? Zaldy's lawyers had denied earlier reports of a rift between Zaldy and his father and brothers, which allegedly resulted in Zaldy being "isolated" from the rest of his accused relatives at the Quezon City Jail Annex inside Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City. Lawyer Howard Calleja told GMA News Online on July 7 that his client had transferred prison cells not because of a spat with his fellow accused relatives but rather due to Zaldy suffering from diabetes. But in the "24 Oras" interview on Monday, Zaldy did not deny the spat, saying: "Kung may mga tampuhan noon, syempre normal sa mga pamilya yan." Zaldy said the grudge he bore against his relatives was their allowing the Maguindanao massacre to happen at all, adding that had he known about it earlier, he might have been able to prevent it from happening. "Pero yung tampo ko sa kanila ay yung bakit nangyari itong dapat di mangyari," he said. "Kung nalaman ko lang ito nang mas maaga, malamang hindi ito nangyari. Mapipigilan siguro natin." "Hindi ako part ng kahit ano mang plano na pumatay ng media, ng tao, o kahit sino pa man," he insisted, denying any involvement in the massacre and repeating his claim that he was with then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Manila when the massacre happened. — with Mark D. Merueñas/KBK/VS/HS/MRT, GMA News
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