DOJ rejects Zaldy's offer to become state witness

The Department of Justice (DOJ) said suspended Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governor Zaldy Ampatuan is not qualified to become a state witness in the Maguindanao massacre case, where members of his family stand as the principal suspects. Speaking to reporters, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima rejected Zaldy's offer to testify against his father, Andal Amaptuan Sr., his brother, Andal Jr., and other members of their clan. While Zaldy has not yet presented to the DOJ a formal request, De Lima said as early as now, she is not inclined to accept the suspended governor's offer to become a state witness. "We can evaluate [a possible request], but on the basis of what's happening to us and the information reaching us, no, I'm not inclined. It's not possible. It's really rejection insofar as public prosecutors are concerned," said De Lima. Approval of DOJ prosecutors An accused who wishes to become state witness must first get the approval of the DOJ prosecutors handling the case. Once approved, the prosecution team will then ask the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 to remove Zaldy from the list of the accused. The Justice chief said Zaldy's claim that he was innocent and that he has no involvement in the November 23, 2009 massacre in Maguindanao "goes against the very essence of a state witness." Under the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure, an accused who wishes to become state witness must not appear to be the most guilty and that his testimony must be substantially corroborated in material points. "He [Zaldy] is saying now that he has nothing to do [with the crime], it is contradictory to what our witnesses have said so far," said De Lima. "We have several witnesses pointing to his involvement in the planning stage. So who then will corroborate his testimony? We also have the evidence to prove the guilt of the accused, so we don't need him," she added. Doubts De Lima also cast doubts on Zaldy's willingness to implicate his relatives in the massacre. "It's not a natural human behavior to go against your own brother and father. But of course, things like that happen; this is a harsh world. But because of that, we need to evaluate [Zaldy's statements] thoroughly. Obviously, it's for self-preservation. He wants to save himself and his family," De Lima said. Zaldy's statements that he is willing to testify against the accused were aired on television on Monday night, two weeks after he was interviewed in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, where he and other accused in the massacre are detained. Fifty-seven people, including 32 journalists, were killed in the November 23, 2009 massacre in Ampatuan town in Maguindanao province. A 58th victim is still missing. At the time, the massacre victims were on their way to file Esmael Mangudadatu's certificate of candidacy for Maguindanao governor. Mangudadatu, then Buluan vice mayor, eventually won the gubernatorial post during the May 10 polls. It is 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. - VVP/HS, GMA News