Lawmaker questions silence of Palace allies on Ampatuan's exposé

Manila, Philippines - Davao del Sur Rep. Marc Douglas Cagas yesterday questioned the silence of his pro-administration colleagues on the efforts of former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governor Zaldy Ampatuan to be given some slack in connection with his involvement in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre.

Cagas said many administration lawmakers even during the elections have vowed justice for the 57 massacre victims and sought the heads of the Ampatuan clan while opposing any efforts to grant them leniency.

Ampatuan earlier said he was seeking to be a state witness in the massacre case to pin down his father and relatives but his later exposés were on the alleged corruption and electoral fraud committed by former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Malacañang had considered his offer with President Aquino saying Ampatuan just wanted protection as a witness.

However, Aquino later said there would be no deal with Ampatuan, who is now asking to be detained in a hospital because of his numerous ailments.

“They (administration lawmakers) would not dare question the support of Malacañang for all these exposés of Ampatuan because that is now helping the agenda of the administration,” Cagas said.

“They’re afraid to be in the way of the administration. It’s like hitting yourself in the head with a rock if you do that even if they know any kind of interference from Malacañang could weaken the case against the Ampatuans and deprive the victims of justice,” he said.

Atty. Raul Lambino, legal spokesman of Arroyo, said, “These politicians have been declaring loudly before about the need for justice for the victims and they wanted to get the heads of the Ampatuans.”

“But now, since they see another kind of treatment being given to Ampatuan, they have now shut up. Didn’t they promise justice?” Lambino said.

Cagas and House Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez also sought transparency in moves to grant the request of Ampatuan to be detained in a hospital.

“If he is really sick, for humanitarian reasons, that request must be granted. But we also need to see the previous medical records. Why did this issue suddenly come out? Are we conditioning the minds of the public? Where are the administration allies who have previously opposed similar medical requests of the Ampatuans?” Cagas said.