3 Mastura clan members dismiss slay raps as 'malicious'

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Members of Central Mindanao’s Mastura clan implicated in the killing of the vice mayor of Barira, Maguindanao in Davao City last Nov. 28 are convinced that partisan groups were behind their having been tagged as masterminds of the crime.

The murder charges were filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Manila by Fatima Ruth Tomawis, wife of slain Vice Mayor Alexander Tomawis.

In separate statements, Maguindanao Vice Gov. Dustin Mastura and his uncles Tucao and Mando Mastura, incumbent mayors of Sultan Kudarat and Sultan Mastura towns, respectively, all dismissed as “malicious” the allegations that they masterminded Tomawis’ killing.

“We have not received any copy yet of that complaint. We were surprised and amazed on how come we were identified as responsible for that crime in that complaint as reported in a newspaper,” said Tucao Mastura, who said he was in Mecca, Saudi Arabia performing the hajj (pilgrimage) when two men gunned down Tomawis in front of his Davao City townhouse.

According to lawyer Mimbalawag Mangutara Jr., legal counsel of the Tomawis family, also charged were Khadaffy Osmena, Datu Teng Diocolano, Commander Laban Ibrahim Conding, Ustadz Ali Limbona, Rosalim Bangon, Ibrahim Tucas, Abu Talib, Hadji Gafur alias Garbi, Hadji Abdula Oranto and several John Does.

Mangutara said they were expecting a DOJ panel, not just a prosecutor, to handle the case.

“I do believe that a panel will hear it and not just one prosecutor given how influential the suspects are,” Mangutara said.

Vice Gov. Mastura said the charges were “trumped up” and politically motivated.

“We feel this is politically motivated. It’s a very malicious prosecution,” he said.

Senior Superintendent Pedro Cabatingan, of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Region 11, said criminal charges against the Masturas and several others have been filed before the DOJ.

He said they have a witness who pointed to the real brains in Tomawis’ killing.

The witness, according to Cabatingan, was even present in one of the meetings where the killing was planned.

“We have nothing to do with the killing and we are convinced everything was meant to malign our reputation,” Vice Gov. Mastura said.

He said their lawyers are now preparing their counter-affidavits to clear themselves of the allegations.

Tomawis was a known “adopted son” of former Ma­guindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. He was said to be planning to run for governor of Maguindanao with the backing of the Ampatuans.

One of the lawyers of the Masturas, John Rangal Nadua, said they have not received yet any copy of the complaint against his clients.

“It’s just a complaint as of now. We are ready to face the complainants in the proper forum,” Nadua said. – With Edith Regalado