2 eyed as witnesses in Maguindanao massacre

MANILA, Philippines - The prosecution has asked the court to turn a police official and an alleged private army member into state witnesses in the Maguindanao massacre multiple murder case.

In separate motions filed Friday, the prosecution said Inspector Rex Ariel Diongon and Esmael Canapia, who are among the 195 accused, have both signified their desire to take the witness stand.

According to both pleadings, they will pinpoint their co-accused, “who at this stage of the proceedings have not yet been identified or whose specific participation in the commission of the crime charged has not yet been established for want of independent witnesses.”

Diongon is set to identify Datu Sajid Ampatuan, Superintendents Abusama Mundas and Bahnarin Kamaong, Senior Inspector Abdulgapor Abad, Al Haj and members of the PNP’s 1507th and 1508th Provincial Mobile Group (PMG).

As for Canapia, he is set to identify CVO members Edres Kasan, Zacarias Akil, and Sonny Pindi.