Clan patriarch, not son, was OIC during massacre

MANILA, Philippines - Disputing claims that he played a major role in the Maguindanao massacre, former provincial officer-in-charge Sajid Islam Ampatuan said he was no longer at the helm of the province at the time of the Nov. 23, 2009 bloodbath.

In a three-page comment submitted to the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 last week, Ampatuan – through lawyer Gregorio Marquez – said provincial records show that he only assumed governorship of the province from Jan. 26 to Oct. 10, 2009.

“Effective Oct. 11, 2009, Datu Andal Ampatuan Sr. assumed the governorship (of Maguindanao),” Sajid Islam told the court, referring to his father and clan patriarch, who is also accused in the massacre.

The comment was submitted in response to the motion for reconsideration filed by the prosecution panel, which asked Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes to reconsider her ruling that granted the bail petition of Sajid Islam.

In the appeal, prosecutors claimed that Sajid Islam played a major role in the planning of the crime as he was at the helm of the province at the time of the incident.

“The use of the backhoe owned by the provincial government of Maguindanao, then headed by accused Sajid… was not a mere coincidental occurrence, but a vital part of the conspiracy that was hatched during the meetings attended by accused,” said the prosecutors.

Several witnesses have said it was during these meetings that members of the Ampatuan clan planned the massacre.

Solis-Reyes earlier prevented Sajid Islam from posting the P11.6-million bail pending the resolution of the motion for reconsideration.

The prosecution panel has already asked the judge to issue a hold departure order for the suspect.