Massacre suspect-turned-state witness now with DOJ

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) has transferred the custody of a Maguindanao massacre suspect-turned-state witness to the Witness Protection Program (WPP) of the Department of Justice (DOJ).

In a letter to the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221, PNP Custodial Center head Superintendent Mario Pagulayan Malana informed Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes that they turned state witness Esmael Canapia to the WPP on March 15.

Malana said Canapia was received by internal security officers Ariel Runas and Rey Fritch Pontanoza during the turnover.

Earlier, Solis-Reyes granted the motion of the prosecution panel seeking the discharge of Canapia from PNP custody to the DOJ.

“There is no argument that the discharge of an accused operates as an acquittal pursuant to Section 18, Rule 119 of the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure,” read the order dated March 14.

Last month, Solis-Reyes granted the motion for the discharge of Canapia, one of the initial 197 people tagged in the Nov. 23, 2009 bloodbath.

Canapia – a special CAFGU (Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit) member – will be the prosecution panel’s second state witness, after the court allowed last year the discharge of former Sultan sa Barongis vice mayor Sukarno Badal, a known political ally of the Ampatuans.

Solis-Reyes said Canapia was able to identify “unique” suspects in the massacre. They include Armando Ambalgan a.k.a. Omar Bulatukan; Maot Dumla a.k.a. Not Abdul; Ibrahim Kamal Tatak a.k.a. Thong Guiamano; and Rakim Kenog a.k.a. Rakim Amil.

The panel led by city prosecutor Archimedes Manabat asked for the release of Canapia to the WPP as it was not expressly directed in the order that granted the motion for his discharge to become a witness to the case.

The prosecutors also asked the court to issue an order for the resumption of the trial for the recall of Canapia as a witness to the case.

Canapia is set to return to witness stand on March 27 to testify against all accused arraigned after Aug. 27, 2012, the last time the witness testified on the case.