Online Pinoys decry Zaldy Ampatuan as state witness

Is blood really thicker than water? On Monday night, Zaldy Ampatuan, one of the suspects in the gruesome murder of 57 individuals in Maguindanao in late 2009, signified his intent to become a state witness for the case —even if it meant indicting his father and brother, who are also implicated in the crime. In an interview with GMA News reporter Joseph Morong at Camp Bagong Diwa, aired over primetime newscast 24 Oras on Monday, Zaldy said he just wanted to truth to come out. "Kahit sinong matamaan, basta pawang katotohanan lamang, handa ako," he stressed. (Whoever gets named, as long as it's the truth, I'm ready.) Both the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior and Local Government have taken great caution with this new development, carefully taking steps to scrutinize Zaldy's motives and possible testimony. Zaldy's sudden change of mind, which drew the nation's attention on Monday night when the news broke out, was met with indignation and doubt from Pinoy social media users who questioned his motives for turning against his kin. On Tuesday morning, we asked viewers of GMA News' noontime newscast "Balitanghali" about their thoughts on Zaldy's statements. Below are some of their reactions: