Member of Muslim clan wants P3 B in damages from Ampatuans

Manila, Philippines - In what is yet the biggest amount demanded for damages in the Maguindanao massacre trial, a member of a Muslim clan is asking P3 billion in damages over the killing of her mother.

Ayesha Vanessa Hajar Andamen took the witness stand yesterday and narrated the incident leading to the day she found out her mother, Eden Mangudadatu Andamen, was among those massacred on Nov. 23, 2009.

Eden was a sister of Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, who also lost his wife in the carnage.

Ayesha said she learned from her aunt that her mother was among those massacred.

“I did not believe it. I prayed but I did not believe it,” Ayesha said.

The day after the massacre she saw her mother’s body at a funeral parlor.

“I cried (because) that should not have happened. She (Eden) is a Muslim woman. It is forbidden in our culture to kill a woman,” Ayesha said.

Ayesha, who works as a cashier at the treasurer’s office in the local government, said she now has to act as mother to her other siblings, being the eldest of seven.

Ayesha said until now, she still has not accepted the brutal killing of her mother, who maintained a pharmacy and medical supply shop in addition to her job as vice mayor of Mangudadatu town.

When asked by Assistant Regional State Prosecutor Peter Medalle, head of the prosecution panel, how much in damages she would want to be awarded, Ayesha said her mother’s life had no price.

But when prodded, Ayesha said: “Since we belong to a royal family, around P3 billion.”

Also during yesterday’s hearing, a widow of another victim asked to be awarded P30 million in damages.

“It’s for the pain I experienced and the loss of my child’s father,” said Fairodz Usman Demello, whose husband Eugene was among those killed.

“It was so painful for me when he died because at that time, I was five months pregnant. I lost a husband and my child lost a father,” Fairodz said in Filipino.

Defense lawyer Paris Real, on the other hand, declined to cross-examine the former houseboy of the Ampatuans over what he claimed was incredible testimony.

Real, counsel for accused Sajid Ampatuan, said the testimony of Lakmodin Saliao was not credible to merit a cross-examination.

Real earlier said he had yet to review the transcript of the witness’ past testimonies in court.

But during yesterday’s hearing, Real said: “I went over his (Saliao’s) testimony but I found it incredible.”

Asked by reporters which specific parts of Saliao’s testimony he found unbelievable, Real said “a lot.”

“I found a lot but I will expound on it in the memorandum that I will be preparing,” he said.

At Wednesday’s hearing Saliao tagged Andal Ampatuan Sr. as having presided over a family gathering that planned the massacre.

Meanwhile, private prosecutor Nena Santos, lawyer of Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu yesterday, said President Aquino has been very helpful in the prosecution of the case.

Santos said Aquino’s help has been felt especially through Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

“The President is really closely monitoring the case,” Santos told reporters on the sidelines of yesterday’s hearing.