Witness: Andal Sr. tried to bribe police, gov't execs

MANILA, Philippines - Former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. has given a substantial amount of money to several policemen and former government officials to cover up the investigation on the massacre of 57 people in Maguindanao last Nov. 23, 2009.

During the continuation of his testimony today, Lakmodin Saliao said  Ampatuan Sr. ordered to give P10 million to former Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza to drop the rebellion raps against members of the Ampatuan clan.

He also said that P10 million be given to Rainier Ebus, one of the suspects in the massacre, to retract his statement before authorities implicating the Ampatuans to the case.

Ampatuan Sr.also ordered Saliao to hand over to Sukarno Dicay, ex-police chief of Ampatuan town, P10 million and P20 million Mike Midtimbang, Maguindanao board member, for taking care of them while inside Camp Panacan in Davao.

Saliao said he received the elder Ampatuan's order during a meeting inside Camp Panacan on Mar. 11, 2010.