Intl media group opposes Zaldy's witness bid

An international media advocacy group joined the opposition to suspended Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Zaldy Ampatuan's offer to become a state witness in the Ampatuan Massacre case, where he and some members of his family are key suspects. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) backed Justice Secretary Leila de Lima's rejection of the bid by the suspended governor to testify against his father Andal Sr. and brother Andal Jr. Several Ampatuan clan members now face trial for the November 23, 2009 massacre where 57 people were killed, including 32 media workers. A 58th victim, a photographer, is still missing. “The IFJ welcomes the rejection of Zaldy Ampatuan’s application to be a state witness. Zaldy Ampatuan’s offer to testify against family members seems an attempt to avoid the full judicial process in prosecuting him for his alleged crime, and the IFJ joins with the NUJP in supporting the decision to reject the offer," IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said. IFJ, which represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries, said at least one key prosecution witness has already identified Zaldy as among those who plotted the massacre. The IFJ echoed the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines' (NUJP) stand that the prosecution witness' statement should disqualify Zaldy from becoming a state witness. The IFJ said Zaldy has not yet been arraigned because of a case before Court of Appeals where he sought to be excluded from the 197 charged with 57 counts of murder. The IFJ also joined the NUJP in calling on those seeking justice for the massacre victims and their families to remain vigilant to ensure that justice is upheld in this critical case. - VVP, GMA News