Ampatuans deny threatening potential witnesses

MANILA, Philippines - Members of the Ampatuan clan implicated in the “Maguindanao massacre” multiple murder case continue to deny accusations that they are threatening fellow accused who are poised to testify against them.

Clan patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr. and Andal Ampatuan Jr. are appealing to the court that three policemen indicted in the case but are being eyed as potential witnesses for the prosection should be detained in the same facility where they are kept.

The Ampatuans are questioning the detention of Inspectors Rex Diongon and Michael Macaraeg and Police Officer 1 Rainier Ebus in the Philippine National Police Custodial Center at Camp Crame, a move authorized by Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221.

According to them, the three policemen should be detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City. They said there was no evidence that there was a “feeling of animosity” between then and the policemen, as stated in Solis-Reyes’ order.

“The accused have not threatened, pressured or influenced the probable witnesses. Note that they are housed in different cells separated by five locked gates with round-the-clock security detail,” the Ampatuans said.

“To insinuate that the accused may threaten or influence these witnesses under these circumstances and in the absence of admissible evidence proving these threats is unfounded to say the least,” they said.

Meanwhile, the prosecutors appealed that other accused who are prospective witnesses be also detained in the PNP Custodial Center. They are Police Officer 1 Pia Kamidon, Takpan Dilon and Esmael Kanapia, who were not allowed to be detained in Camp Crame since there was still no motion to discharge them from the case.

The prosecutors also asked the same thing for Chief Inspector Sukarno Dicay, 14 other policemen and three other accused, whose petition to be transferred to Camp Crame was not allowed since there was still no motion filed regarding their intention to testify.

Prosecutors said that while the Security Intensive Care Area in Camp Bagong Diwa is a high-risk detention facility, “it houses different groups or gangs... not to mention members of the Abu Sayyaf Group.” They said this poses a danger to the prospective witnesses.