Zaldy not involved in Mangudadatu slay try — lawyer

The camp of Zaldy Ampatuan, a suspect in the Maguindanao massacre case, on Thursday denied that the suspended Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governor has anything to do with the assassination attempt on Maguindanao Governor Esmael “Toto" Mangudadatu. Interviewed by reporters at the sidelines of the massacre trial in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, lawyer Howard Calleja said despite what happened, Zaldy still considers Mangudadatu a friend. "[Zaldy] until now considers Toto his friend. Hindi niya kino-consider na kaaway si Toto," Calleja said. "There's nothing wrong or ill [feelings] that he bears to [Mangudadatu]." Zaldy and his father, Andal Ampatuan Sr. and brothers Andal Jr. and Sajid are key suspects in the Nov. 23, 2009 massacre that left 57 people dead, including Mangudadatu's wife and two sisters. Mangudadatu then was about to challenge a member of the Ampatuans in the province's gubernatorial race. [See related: Ampatuan father and son, clueless on Mangudadatu slay try — lawyer] On Monday, a car rigged with an explosive went off along a national highway in Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat, while the convoy of Mangudadatu was passing by. Two people were killed, one of them a Maguindanao board member who was with the convoy. Calleja said their camp was "surprised" with the bombing attack and hoped that a speedy investigation would lead to the arrest of the perpetrators. [See related: Tacurong blast worries prosecution lawyer in massacre case] "Pero ang pinakamasama diyan, katulad nung sa Maguindanao massacre, nata-trial by publicity kami. Wala pa namang alam, lahat na lang inuugnay sa amin," Calleja said as he denounces insinuations that his client may have knowledge in the attack. Calleja noted that the attack happened in Sultan Kudarat, which is Mangudadatu’s turf since its governor is his uncle, Pax Mangudadatu. Zaldy is facing 57 counts of murder for the massacre, but he has yet to be arraigned due to his pending petition before the Court of Appeals seeking for the withdrawal of the charges. Calleja branded as "irresponsible" and "hyper-sensationalized" attempts to drag Zaldy and his clan's name into the assassination attempt. "Kung ayaw niyo ng hearsay, ayaw namin ng double, triple hearsay from anybody's conjecture," the lawyer said. Calleja said his client "wishes [Mangudadatu] well and that he succeeds in his service to the government because at the end of the day it is service to the people." He also challenged police authorities investigating the blast to carry out an extensive investigation on the matter, instead of succumbing to trial by publicity and pinning the blame on the Ampatuans. "We are asking the police to have a more exhaustive review. Bakit naman sasabihin kaagad nila na hindi na natin alam kung terorismo talaga ito. Ang isa naman, sasabihin [may kinalaman ito sa] pulitika, at marami ka namang kalaban at hindi lang isa," he said. — KBK, GMA News