Zaldy lawyer: Mangudadatus scared of Ampatuans' return to power

A lawyer of suspended Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governor Zaldy Ampatuan on Wednesday said the Mangudadatu clan is scared of seeing the Ampatuans return to power in Maguindanao. This is the reason why incumbent Maguindanao Governor Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu was vocal about his opposition to have Zaldy turned into a state witness in the high profile Maguindanao massacre case, said lawyer Firdausi Abbas. "Natatakot sila na may isa sa mga Ampatuan ang makalabas... kasi pag may nakalabas, magkakaroon uli ng leadership ang Ampatuans at wala silang magawa," Abbas told reporters during a break in Wednesday’s hearing on the massacre case. Abbas blamed the Mangudadatus' "political ambitions" for the death of Mangudadatu's wife and two sisters. "Ang asawa at kapatid yun ang pinain nila [Toto used his wife and sisters as bait]," he said. Mangudadatu's wife and two sisters were among the 57 people killed on Nov. 23, 2009 by armed men associated with the Ampatuan clan. Several members of the clan, including its patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr., are currently detained for the massacre. The victims were on their way to Shariff Aguak town to file Mangudadatu's candidacy papers for the May 10, 2010 elections when waylaid. Zaldy, in several television interviews while inside his detention cell in Taguig City, has expressed willingness to divulge his knowledge about the massacre even if it means pinning his father and two brothers to it. For his part, Mangudadatu reiterated his opposition against plans to make Zaldy a state witness. "This will destroy the whole process," he said. The prosecution has earlier rejected Zaldy's offer, saying it has enough strong witnesses to pin down the suspects. Justice SecretaryLeila de Lima on Tuesday categorically said they would reject the offer because Zaldy was a principal accused and that he has nothing new to say. — Mark D. Merueñas/KBK, GMA News