Joint session hears martial law report

By BEN R. ROSARIO

Despite a bid by congressional leaders to evade debates, the joint session of Congress started off yesterday with arguments initiated by lawmakers who questioned the nonappearance of government officials, including that of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Senators Mar Roxas and Richard Gordon assailed no-shows on the part of Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales and AFP chief of staff Gen. Victor Ibrado, who were out of the country when the joint session started at exactly 4:10 p.m. yesterday.

Meanwhile, Maguindanao Rep. Didagen Dilangalen, a relative of the Ampatuans, debated heatedly with Makati City Rep. Teodoro Locsin in connection with the former’s demand for Arroyo’s presence before the joint session that was convened to allow Congress to review the declaration of martial law over Maguindanao province.

A total of 18 senators and 192 congressmen responded to the roll call, thus, indicating a quorum.
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Speaker Prospero Nograles called the resource persons shortly after the rules were adopted by the body, but Ibrado and Gonzales were conspicuously not in attendance.

Present during yesterday’s joint session were Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera, and PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa.

The rules state that the presence of Ibrado and Gonzales is mandatory.

Speaker Prospero Nograles said Ibrado was due to arrive from China by 4 p.m. yesterday.

On the other hand, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said Gonzales had also requested to be excused because he was still in Singapore to confer with Ambassador Rafael Seguis in connection with the resumption of peace negotiations between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Gordon and Roxas slammed the non-appearance as a demonstration of discourtesy towards Congress which is a co-equal branch of the government.

“I’m dismayed na parang binabalewala ang Kongreso at mahina ang rason kung bakit dapat ipagpatuloy ang martial law,” Gordon declared.

On the other hand, congressmen ignored efforts of Congress leaders to swiftly reach a decision on the martial law declaration when they engaged in a debate over the non-appearance of Arroyo.

The rules give each chamber a maximum of 10 hours to grill the resource persons invited and 10 minutes each for the proponent and the oppositor of a motion to revoke Proclamation 1959.

Dilangalen, who earlier filed a Supreme Court petition seeking revocation of Presidential Proclamation 1959 which proclaimed martial law in Maguindanao, chided Arroyo for having
“no courtesy at all of reporting to us in person.”

“Only Congressman (Simeon) Datumanong and I could really experience what it is to be representing an area in this country that is affected by martial law. The President may not consider this (joint session) as very important to her,” said Dilangalen.

Apparently irked over Dilangalen’s remarks, Locsin rose to criticize the Maguindanao lawmaker for “forum shopping” since he already had asked the High Court to revoke the martial law proclamation.

“He (Dilangalen) does not believe he has a chance to get it (revocation) from the Supreme Court. This is forum shopping, since this is Christmas, I suggest he should go shopping in SM,” Locsin said.

Angered by Locsin’s remarks, Dilangalen demanded that Locsin be declared out of order.

The exchange prompted both Enrile and Nograles to declare a recess that lasted over 30 minutes. Session resumed at 5:46 p.m. with Locsin apologizing to Dilangalen and the PNP presenting its report about the Maguindanao situation.

The joint session of Congress was still ongoing as of press time last night.

161 gunmen identified

By AARON B. RECUENCO and ALI MACABALANG

The Philippine National Police (PNP) released Wednesday the names and photos of the more than 100 gunmen involved in the November 23 massacre of 57 journalists and civilians in Maguindanao, with a top police official saying they will offer rewards to expedite their arrest.

PNP Director General Jesus Verzosa said the identification of an additional 100 suspects, based on the testimonies of the policemen and Civilian Volunteers Organization (CVO) members who are now under custody, brought the number of suspects who took part in the carnage to 161.

“We have already recommended the filing of 51 counts of murder against 61 people; we will include this additional 100 to the referral that will be submitted to the Department of Justice through the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group,” Verzosa said.

Of the 61 already included in the complaint sheet, most remain at large.

Of the 100 CVO suspects named Wednesday, Verzosa said 68 are assigned to Datu Unsay town where Andal Ampatuan, Jr. is the mayor, 17 from Shariff Aguak town where Anwar Ampatuan is the mayor, 11 from Mamasapano town where Bahnarin Ampatuan is mayor, three from Datu Saudi and one from the town of Sanki.

“Don't mistake them as all members of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and PNP because they are in fatigue uniforms. They are using these uniforms while giving security and being used as private armed groups to the municipalities as mentioned there,” said Verzosa.

Verzosa said they will offer reward money for each of the 100 wanted CVOs in exchange for any information that could lead to their arrests.

“We will be meeting immediately since this is the first time we came to know of the 100 CVOs and total of 161 for all suspects. We will announce it (the reward amount) at least tomorrow (Thursday),” said Verzosa.

CIDG Director Raul Castañeda said they have two witnesses claiming that they actually saw Andal Jr. firing at all the victims, adding that he was the one leading the shooting spree.

When some of the victims spotted the shooting of some of their companions, investigators said some of the journalists jumped off the vehicle. It was then that they were shot by other CVOs.

Verzosa said there were indications that there was a conspiracy in the massacre, adding that the group of Andal Jr. had been waiting for the Mangudadatu convoy days before the brutal slays.

Meanwhile, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Vice Gov. Ansaruddin Adiong yesterday urged authorities to treat fairly the ARMM bureaucracy, especially its funding support from the national government, which some legislators suspected of being allegedly used by recipient officials for nefarious activities.

“We appeal for the kind consideration of higher authorities like our senators and congressmen to please spare the ARMM budget from undue freezing or delay in its release,” Adiong told the Manila Bulletin.
Adiong made the appeal after members of the two chambers of Congress and local executives batted on Tuesday for an audit and possible freeze of the ARMM budget amid suspicions that part of it was possibly used by the beleaguered Ampatuan family in building its private army.

Congress has allocated the ARMM bureaucracy with a little over P10 billion for this year and next year. More than 60 percent of the budget is allocated for salaries and benefits of the ARMM personnel, including thousands of public school mentors scattered across the component provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi and Marawi City, regional planning officials said.

Adiong, whom Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ronaldo Puno has designated as successor of arrested ARMM Gov. Zaldy Uy Ampatuan, said any delay or cut in the allocation of the regional appropriation would not only disenfranchise workers but also aggravate the anxiety obtaining in the region.

Prior to his arrest last Saturday, ARMM Gov. Ampatuan was required by Puno to submit financial reports on the regional government’s expenditures in the last quarter of 2008 and first three quarters of this year.

Adiong, who is concurrent regional DILG secretary, said his office would comply with the required audit.

“We will see to it that every penny in the ARMM budget would be spent to its legal purpose in order top uplift the living condition of the regional populace,” he said.

Adiong is a scion of Lanao del Sur’s Adiong and Alonto political families that are known for untarnished track record in public service and for their peaceful governmental managements.

Basilan Gov. Jum Akbar, whose province belongs to the ARMM, said they are contented with the way funds are being disbursed.

Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan, whose province is also under ARMM, admitted he had no idea about the annual budget of the autonomous region, but confirmed the province is receiving funds nonetheless from the ARMM.

“This (funds probe) would be a very good opportunity for Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronnie Puno to put into perspective the situation in Mindanao,” Tan said.

Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Alonto-Adiong Jr., elder brother of the regional vice governor, also said his province has been receiving its “fair share” of the ARMM funds.

More arrests, more raids 62 held; another arms cache unearthed

By Marlon Ramos
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inquirer Mindanao

DATU HOFFER AMPATUAN, Maguindanao—Using sniffer dogs and shovels, troops dug up another arms cache on Sunday in a crackdown on suspects in the massacre of 57 people after the declaration of martial law in Maguindanao that has led to 62 arrests.

The seizure of 39 high-powered firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition came a day after police and military units uncovered 340,000 bullets for M-16 assault rifles in a warehouse reportedly owned by the Ampatuan clan, the main suspects in the Nov. 23 bloodbath, in nearby Mamasapano town.

Army and police units also swooped down on three opulent mansions of the Ampatuan family in Davao City Sunday, Maj. Gen. Gaudencio Pangilinan, vice chief of staff for operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said in a briefing in Manila.

There were no arrests made or contraband confiscated in the raids on the Ampatuan mansions.

“We’re not picking our targets at random,” Pangilinan said, adding that troops were moving swiftly to neutralize the 4,000-member civilian militia force of the Ampatuans.

“These forces are not only a threat to the public safety and security of the province, they are also capable of committing terrorism, such as bombings, arson and attacks on our convoys,” he said, adding authorities have disarmed only about 400 of the militia group.

Philippine National Police Director Andres Caro said at the Malacañang briefing that 62 suspects in the massacre had been arrested since President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued her martial law proclamation on Friday.

Those detained on Saturday included Andal Ampatuan Sr., the family patriarch and three-time governor of the province, and four of his sons—the governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the acting governor of Maguindanao, its vice governor and the mayor of the capital town of Shariff Aguak.

The alleged mastermind, Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. of Datu Unsay town, surrendered three days after the massacre and is detained at the National Bureau of Investigation in Manila.

Mango farm yields arms

Lt. Col. Michael Samson, spokesperson of the Maguindanao military unit, said at Datu Hoffer Ampatuan town that a tip by a resident led to the buried armaments at a mango farm in Barangay Limponga.

Samson told reporters that investigators were verifying information that the two-hectare farm is owned by the elder Ampatuan, one of Ms Arroyo’s closest political allies.

“Almost 80 percent of our province is owned by the Ampatuans. I’m sure even the policemen know that for a fact,” a middle-aged woman said.

Recovered from the area were a 50-cal. machine gun, 11 M-16 rifles, 15 M-14 rifles, three Garand rifles, two automatic rifles, two M203 grenade rifles, two M60 and M50 sub-machine guns, a 30-cal. rifle and two carbines.

The latest find was unearthed from a four-foot deep digging just 20 meters away from a nipa hut of the farm caretaker, who has disappeared.

Various types of ammo for different types of assault rifles were placed in three sacks and at least 10 boxes of wooden and metal boxes.

A nearby one-foot hole also yielded a wooden box containing at least 1,000 rounds for M-16 rifles.

Bullet boxes marked ‘DND’

The boxes of bullets were marked “Government Arsenal DND (Department of National Defense).”

The ammunition and some of the long firearms showed that they were manufactured by Arms Corp. of the Philippines, a private weapons company that exclusively manufactures bullets and guns for state security agencies.

Fenced by metal barb wires, the mango plantation lies beside a dirt road connecting the province capital, Shariff Aguak, to Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, a newly created town named after Ampatuan’s murdered son.

The farm is less than a kilometer away from the provincial police headquarters in Camp Akilan Ampatuan.

As in last Thursday’s recovery of firearms buried in a vacant lot near Ampatuan’s mansion, nobody was arrested in Sunday’s operations.

Col. Leo Ferrer, commander of the Army’s 601st Infantry Battalion, said the farm’s caretaker fled the area moments before government troopers arrived.

Ballistic tests

Colonel Ferrer said that ballistic tests would be conducted to determine if the bullets match the shells recovered at the site where an election convoy of gubernatorial candidate Esmael Mangudadatu and his supporters were either gunned down or hacked to death.

The dead included the wife of Mangudadatu, vice mayor of Buluan town, his two sisters and 30 media people. It was the largest single loss of lives for journalists anywhere in the world. They were to cover the filing of Mangudadatu’s candidacy in the May elections.

Ferrer said the recovery of the firearms might also prompt the filing of additional criminal charges against the elder Ampatuan if it were established that he owned the farm.

Using metal detectors and a bomb-sniffing dog, members of the Army’s Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team scoured the plantation for other firearms.

“We will continue the search for other firearms,” said Samson.

Samson said troops would also look for a certain Kamilon, a policeman who purportedly owned the police uniform seized inside one of the ammo boxes.

‘High-value targets’

Authorities have taken into custody five “high-value targets” who allegedly had direct participation in the massacre, said a police intelligence official who asked not to be named because of the nature of his work.

“They were close-in security escorts of the family. We also received information that they were actually relatives of the Ampatuans,” the official said.

“Our information revealed that they directly participated in the crime,” he added.

Ferrer said police had “invited for questioning” more than 40 persons, some of them women.

“Some of them may have knowledge of the massacre. But if they are cleared by our police investigators, we will release them, immediately,” he said.

Ferrer belied reports that soldiers were randomly storming houses of residents in the province.

“If we accost some individuals or conduct search operations in residential areas, they were based on reliable information given to us. They are not done arbitrarily,” the Army commander said.

He dismissed as “misinformation” the text messages claiming that a number of residents in Shariff Aguak fled after soldiers swooped on their houses, arrested male members of the household and took their valuables.

Empty streets

Businesses and marketplaces were closed and streets were empty in Maguindanao Sunday, while civilians started to flee their homes and farms in fear violence may erupt soon.

“I advise you to stay put and be calm or go about your daily chores. Should our soldiers commit abuses, they will be relieved, investigated and punished,” said Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer, Maguindanao military commander who has taken over as governor.

He said arrests and house searches would only be done on those suspected to be involved in the massacre. With reports from Jocelyn R. Uy, Christian V. Esguerra, Jeffrey M. Tupas and Dennis Jay Santos, Inquirer Mindanao, Reuters, Associated Press

Where is the President?’

Why isn’t she here? It’s history By Gil C. Cabacungan Jr., Leila Salaverria, Christine Avendaño
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:15:00 12/10/2009

MANILA, Philippines—“Where is the President?”

Lawmakers Wednesday cited the glaring absence of the commander in chief, who declared martial law in Maguindanao province, during the first joint session of Congress.

The session was delayed by almost an hour due to debates on the absence of the President, her defense secretary and the chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“Why is she not here? This is history. Does she not have the courtesy at all to report in person? We thought that with the President declaring martial law, the President herself should be here to explain to us,” asked Maguindanao Rep. Didagen Dilangalen, his voice rising.

Together with fellow Maguindanao Rep. Simeon Datumanong, Dilangalen said that they were the only lawmakers who were personally affected by Presidential Proclamation No. 1959.

Ms Arroyo issued the proclamation on Friday night to suppress a “rebellion in the offing” of disparate armed groups loyal to the Ampatuan clan, accused of masterminding the Nov. 23 killing of 57 people in Maguindanao.

Since Friday’s proclamation read by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Ms Arroyo has not spoken one word about exercising her extraordinary martial law powers. She also has yet to face the press.

Congress may revoke or support the martial law proclamation by a simple majority vote (set at 147) of the joint session.

The first joint session was suspended at 10:50 Wednesday night and would resume at 2 p.m. Thursday.

Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo was the sixth and last to ask questions on the first day. He said rebellion is hard to prove, and it takes long to do so as well. He knows, since he has been charged with it twice.

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. concurred with Dilangalen’s stand that Ms Arroyo should have given Congress the “courtesy” to face lawmakers.

But Speaker Prospero Nograles and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said the President was not compelled to attend the joint session.

Enrile and Nograles said the President had complied with the constitutional requirement with the submission of her report to Congress 48 hours after her declaration on Dec. 4 at 9 p.m.

Pimentel, however, pointed out that the issue was not the submission of the report but the President’s personal explanation of why she implemented it.

It was also pointed out that the report was not signed by Ms Arroyo but by Ermita.

Remedios Poblador

The President was not at the joint session but her most trusted girl Friday was there. Remedios Poblador, an undersecretary of the presidential legislative office, was seen on the main stage along with Trade Secretary Peter Favila.

Poblador entered and exited through the right access way across from the seats of Nograles and Enrile.

Things got heated initially when Makati Rep. Teodoro Locsin Jr. rose to chastise Dilangalen for “forum shopping.”

“The gentleman who was so insistent on the physical and personal presence of the President has filed a petition I suppose for the revocation of martial law in the Supreme Court.”

Several petitions are pending before the Supreme Court insisting that Ms Arroyo violated the Constitution when she declared martial law because there was no actual rebellion or invasion, the only grounds allowed under the Constitution.

After a 30-minute break, Locsin withdrew his remarks.

An Arroyo ally, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, grilled administration officials as he pointed out that the martial law proclamation may be standing on essentially nonexistent ground.

“If you review the report given to us by (Police) Director (Andres) Caro, there is no mention whatsoever that prior to Dec. 4 there was public uprising and armed uprising against the government. So that could negate the factual basis of the declaration of martial law, the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus,” Lagman said.

Lagman noted that the presence of armed groups could indicate lawless violence, but this was not equal to a rebellion.

Responding to Lagman, Ermita was forced to acknowledge that there was no actual rebellion, but maintained that all signs point to it.

“You may be correct there is no actual rebellion going on. However, all the indications that rebellion is being committed or happening in the ground is [in] the presence of armed groups that prevent authorities from carrying out [their] duty and effecting the arrest despite the testimonies of witnesses,” Ermita said.

Sedition, not rebellion

Lagman also pressed Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera to cite her factual basis for saying there was an actual rebellion instead of a looming one.

Devanadera said she arrived at the conclusion based on information she received that heavily armed groups had taken strategic positions within Maguindanao and various camps controlled by the Ampatuans.

These actions, she added, prevented the implementation and enforcement of laws and threatened public safety.

But Lagman appeared unconvinced and pointed out that even the nonfunctioning of civil authorities in Maguindanao only indicated sedition and not rebellion.

Each chamber was given 10 hours for questioning of resource persons from the executive branch, and it is up to its members how to budget their time.

Besides Ermita and Devanadera, other ranking officials present were Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, Defense Undersecretary Antonio Santos and Lt. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang, armed forces vice chief of staff.

Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales and Gen. Victor Ibrado, armed forces chief of staff, were also invited but Gonzales was in Singapore. Ibrado arrived later in the evening.

At 6:31 p.m., the Senate and the House took turns asking questions.

Sen. Benigno Aquino III was the first one recognized to inquire. But his questioning was delayed for nearly 15 minutes because of various parliamentary inquiries.

Five reports

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said Congress had received five reports about martial law in Maguindanao, and wanted to know which of these would be the basis for the lawmakers’ interpellation.

Administration officials insisted that there was an “ongoing rebellion” in Maguindanao.

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago urged Ms Arroyo to lift her proclamation “as soon as possible” because it was likely the Palace would lose its case before the Supreme Court.

Santiago said the high court was likely to decide on the legality of Proclamation No. 1959 even before the joint session of Congress could come up with a decision to either revoke or support it.

Santiago, designated to be the third senator who can ask questions, made the call through the media.

The senator, who is for the revocation of the proclamation, said Malacañang was likely to lose in the high court because the declaration had no legal basis.

She reiterated that there was no actual rebellion in Maguindanao to justify the imposition of martial law.

Court orders Samar gov: Return P104M to province

TACLOBAN CITY — SAMAR GOV. Milagrosa Tan and other provincial officials were cited in contempt and ordered to return to the impoverished province’s coffers at least P104 million paid to suppliers of medicines and various items in contracts that the court had ordered stopped.

The regional trial court based in Calbayog City ordered the bidding and award of the contracts stopped in two temporary restraining orders issued on July 7 and July 16.

Tan and the other officials, however, defied the July 16 TRO and not only proceeded with the bidding and award of the contracts but the payments for suppliers as well.

The court, in its Nov. 18 order, fined Tan and the other officials P30,000 each for the contempt case.

Executive Judge Reynaldo Clements, presiding judge of RTC Branch 31 in Calbayog City, issued his second TRO on July 16 to stop the bidding and award by the provincial government of P104 million worth of contracts to buy medicines, construction materials and other items from various suppliers.

Cited in contempt with Tan were Provincial Treasurer Bienvenido Sabenecio, Provincial Accountant Antonio Versoza Jr., lawyer Anastacio Yong and Ariel Yboa. They were all members of the pre-bids and awards committee (PBAC) of the provincial government.

Return the money

Tan and the rest were ordered to return to the provincial government of Samar, one of the country’s poorest provinces, the P104 million in payments that were made to suppliers.

Calls made to Tan and the other officials for their statements went unanswered.

The contracts were questioned by Vice Gov. Jesus Redaja and the Concerned Citizens Action Force Organization, an anticorruption watchdog in Samar. They said the purchase of new medicines and other supplies was not covered by any allotment in the current provincial budget.

The bidding for the contracts was won by these firms—GenPro Trading, based in Daraga, Albay; Tacloban Far East Marketing, based in Tacloban City; Zber Med Pharma, based in Pasig City; and Aikus Hollowmaker, BBCS Data System and Seaside Store, all based in Catbalogan City.

Disrespect

The amounts separately awarded to these establishments were not disclosed.

Judge Clements, in his order, said Tan and the other officials inspected the purchased goods on July 16, 17 and 18, well within the period covered by the second TRO that he issued on July 16.

“The respondents clearly committed acts which brought the authority of the court and the administration of law into disrespect or which belittled, degraded, obstructed and embarrassed this court,” Judge Clements said in his order.

Graft suspension

Quoting a Supreme Court decision, the court said that an injunction, or restraining order, remains in effect until it is overturned by the court.

Last year, Tan was suspended for 90 days by the Department of Interior and Local Government over a graft case involving the use of P16 million of Samar’s calamity funds for supplies meant for a typhoon that had long passed when the funds were released.

Tan is planning to run for congressman to take the place of her daughter, Sharee Ann.

Wife of Ampatuan rival had the most gunshots – NBI

Autopsy shows no signs of rape By Norman Bordadora, Jeannette Andrade
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:07:00 12/01/2009

Filed Under: Maguindanao Massacre, Election Violence, Crime and Law and Justice

MANILA, Philippines -- Bai Genalin Mangudadatu, the wife of Esmael Mangudadatu who is running for governor to wrest power away from the Ampatuans in Maguindanao, suffered 17 gunshot wounds and several “incised wounds,” according to a medico-legal report of the National Bureau of Investigation.

The NBI also found no sign of rape among the 15 female victims it had examined.

Bai Genalin, the wife of Esmael, the vice mayor of Buluan town, was to file her husband’s certificate of candidacy for Maguindanao governor when armed men blocked her convoy and killed her and at least 56 others on Nov. 23.

Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera, who received the NBI’s autopsy reports, said Mangudadatu’s wife appeared to have received the biggest number of gunshot wounds among the victims.

The autopsy reports were among the pieces of evidence that state prosecutors submitted in filing 25 counts of murder against the main suspect, Datu Unsay Mayor Datu Andal Ampatuan Jr., on Tuesday.

The report showed that the body of Bai Genalin was in the early state of decomposition and showed three incisions aside from the multiple gunshot wounds.

The gunshot wounds include one on her face and several near her genitals.

“The findings show that she was shot at close range,” Devanadera said.

Florencio Arizala, NBI medico-legal division chief, told reporters that there was no sign that the female victims had been sexually abused.

Among the 20 bodies processed by the NBI were those of Mangudadatu’s wife, two sisters and aunt as well as those of three media workers, including a woman.

No sperm was found on the slain women by female doctors of the NBI, Arizala said. “Sperm cells die after 72 hours but the bodies were found immediately the day after they were killed,” he said.

The chief NBI medico-legal officer, nevertheless, said a DNA test was needed for certainty.

“We can conduct DNA test as another step. You can ask the chemistry division about that. We already got smear from them (female victims) and processed it in a microscope,” he said.

He further theorized that the zippers of the women’s pants could have been opened when the bodies became bloated.

“That may explain why their clothes were ripped and their zippers opened. It could have also been caused by the manner the bodies were handled,” Arizala said.

He noted that one of the female victims, who had a 24-inch waistline while alive, ended up with a 40-inch waistline when her body was recovered.

‘Go easy on Ampatuans’

Justice secretary also bares death threats
By Norman Bordadora
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:34:00 12/02/2009

Filed Under: Maguindanao Massacre, Crime and Law and Justice, Election Violence, Judiciary (system of justice)

MANILA, Philippines—Government prosecutors and judges with jurisdiction over the Maguindanao massacre have received threats and been told to go easy on members of the Ampatuan clan, Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera said Tuesday.

Devanadera said she herself had received a message from someone “to go slow” on the Ampatuans so they wouldn’t be pinned down for the country’s worst election-related violence.

Lawyer Jose Midas Marquez, Supreme Court spokesperson and deputy court administrator, said the high tribunal had also received information on the threats against judges and court personnel in Cotabato City who were expected to handle the murder charges.

Devanadera said the judges in Cotabato City had gone on leave. The judges, she said, also had received threats.

Marquez said the Supreme Court had received similar information.

The Supreme Court spokesperson said Branch 15 of the Cotabato Regional Trial Court was vacant.

Marquez said the substitute judge of Branch 15 had to inhibit himself because he was a former father-in-law of Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

He said Chief Justice Reynato Puno had designated Sultan Kudarat Judge Melanio Guerrero as presiding judge of Branch 15 to receive the information against Andal Ampatuan Jr.

Asked if the threats against the Cotabato City judges and court personnel were related to the Maguindanao massacre case, he said: “That seems to be the cause of the threats.”

Marquez said the Supreme Court had coordinated with the Philippine National Police to secure judges and the court itself.

Text messages to prosecutors

“The prosecutors received relayed messages in the same manner that I have received it. Some of our prosecutors received text messages. Some information were relayed by people they know,” Devanadera said.

She said she had received some messages to go slow in the case.

“It just said that they (the Ampatuans) shouldn’t be pinned down like when I said ‘that there would be no sacred cows and that there would be no letup,’” she said.

The Mangudadatus have accused the Ampatuans of masterminding the killing of Bai Genalin Mangudadatu, wife of Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu, and more than 50 others, including 30 journalists, on Nov. 23.

The vice mayor’s wife, relatives and lawyers were on their way to the Commission on Elections office in Shariff Aguak town to file the gubernatorial candidacy papers of Mangudadatu, who said he had received death threats from the Ampatuans.

The Ampatuan clan led by Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. is influential in the province as many of its members hold elective and appointive positions.

Three witnesses said Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. led 100 armed men who flagged down six vehicles carrying 57 people and killed them. The mayor is now detained at the National Bureau of Investigation jail in Manila.

Change venue of trial

The Department of Justice has formally asked the Supreme Court to change the venue of the murder trial against Ampatuan Jr. The trial is currently set at the Cotabato Regional Trial Court.

Devanadera appointed City Prosecutor Edilberto Jamora of General Santos City to oversee the case buildup against the perpetrators of the massacre as part of the response to the threats against prosecutors with jurisdiction over the scene of the crime in Maguindanao.

“(We have taken steps to ensure) the personal safety of the prosecutors, the personal safety of the judges ... Just like this morning we provided security for our prosecutors,” the justice secretary said.

Asked if she was afraid of the threats, the justice secretary said: “I believe this is my job and so this is nothing personal. I’m here in this position and there is no option but for me to do my job. Let’s just pray.”

Gordon, Fernando team up as 2010 ‘transformers’

December 01, 2009 14:27:00

Anna Valmero Christine Avendaño

INQUIRER.net Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) Call us the "transformers," Senator Richard Gordon and former Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando said of their teamup in next year's polls.

Gordon announced Tuesday his intention to run for president under his party Bagumbayan-Volunteers for a New Philippines and introduced Fernando as his running mate.

They filed their certificates of candidacy on the same day at the Commission on Elections office in Manila.

"We can meet the challenges of the country," Gordon said in a news conference in the Senate before proceeding to the Comelec.

Gordon said both of them have been "natural executives" who have "transformed" their communities.

He was referring to their experience as local executives – Gordon was mayor of Olongapo, Zambales, and eventually head of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, whiile Fernando was mayor of Marikina and later chairman of the MMDA.

Fernando said he and Gordon's team-up was a "fusion of two performers'' with the intent of “transform(ing) the minds and hearts of our people to build character and community for a better Philippines.”

Gordon and Fernando were at the Senate along with their wives, Kate Gordon and Marikina Mayor Marides Fernando.

Fernando sought the support of his party, the Lakas-Lampi-CMD, for his presidential bid but lost to former defense chief Gilbert Teodoro.

Fernando was mum about his 2010 plans up until when he declared his vice presidential bid.

Gordon was the author of Republic Act 9369 or the poll automation law and was a staunch supporter of the 2010 computerized elections technology to limit if not prevent cheating and poll fraud, usually associated with manual balloting.

Gordon visited Comelec immediately after the poll body signed the P7.2 billion deal with Smartmatic-Total Information Management, which will provide 82,200 machines to automate the voting.

Arroyo now an official bet for Congress

December 01, 2009 08:23:00

Tonette Orejas Charlene Cayabyab

Central Luzon Desk

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – (UPDATE 3) President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo became officially a candidate for representative of Pampanga’s second district in the 2010 elections at about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.

The President, who came from a Mass organized by her supporters in her late father’s hometown of Lubao, personally filed her certificate of candidacy at the Commission on Elections office in this capital city.

Arroyo was mobbed by supporters as she arrived at the Comelec office. She was accompanied by her husband, lawyer Jose Miguel Arroyo, and mayors and other officials of Pampanga.

In Lubao, the mood was festive as Arroyo’s supporters hosted a Mass and a short program before she filed her CoC on Tuesday morning.

The event was like a campaign rally for Arroyo and a farewell party for her son, incumbent Representative Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo, who gave way and urged his mother to represent the district in the House of Representatives.

The eldest of Arroyo’s sons is serving his second term.

San Fernando Archbishop Paciano Aniceto, a known adviser of the President, did not attend and officiate the Mass at the St. Augustine Church held prior to Ms Arroyo’s filing of her CoC. The bishop said he had prior engagements.

The priest who celebrated the Mass likened Ms Arroyo’s candidacy to the action of Jesus Christ, whom he said “went down to serve.”

The second district is composed of the towns of Lubao, Guagua, Floridablanca, Porac, Sta. Rita, and Sasmuan.

Ms Arroyo will face Feliciano Serrano, an electronics engineer, who filed his CoC on Monday.

Abigail Kwok, INQUIRER.net

Presidential candidates swell to 99 – Comelec

By Anna Valmero
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 19:32:00 12/01/2009

Filed Under: Eleksyon 2010, Elections, Politics

MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) On the eve of last day of filing for next year’s polls, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has received 99 certificates of candidacy for president in next year’s elections at the close of filing Tuesday midnight.

Records from the agency’s legal department showed it has accepted 99 candidacies for president, 20 for vice president and 158 for senator since November 20. Meanwhile, the Comelec Secretariat has accepted manifestations of intent from around 300 party-list groups to join next year’s polls.

Among those who filed the CoCs on Tuesday were Gilbert Teodoro and actor Edu Manzano who are running as president and vice president under the Lakas-Kampi-Christian Muslim Democrats party; Senator Richard Gordon and former Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando under Bagumbayan-Volunteers for a New Philippines; Senator Maria Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal who is running an independent campaign for president, and former TV host Jay Sonza who filed his candidacy for vice president.

Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. also filed his reelection bid while singer Imelda Papin also made official her bid for senator in the 2010 national polls. Gay rights activist and Ang Ladlad founder Danton Remoto also filed an independent bid for senator and enlisted his party-list with the Comelec Secretariat as another contender in the 2010 elections, pending their motion for accreditation to be tackled by the en banc.

Administration bets Teodoro and Manzano held a program with their supporters in front of the Comelec building in Intramuros prior to filing their CoCs in the morning. The party standard bearer said his group offers “total reform and continuation of programs under the proven leadership of Lakas-Kampi-CMD.”

Gordon and Fernando, who filed their bids in the afternoon, proved earlier reports that the two have teamed-up for next year's elections. The tandem was formed only on Monday night, admitted Fernando, when he tried to persuade Gordon to get him as running mate.

Both are confident of launching a nationwide campaign and promise to usher “transformational politics” citing a strong track record of local leadership. Gordon was formerly in-charge of the Subic Bay Freeport while Fernando was a former mayor of Marikina City.

Running as an independent candidate, Madrigal said her bid exemplifies her principled leadership, a new type of politics that Filipinos should look for to rid the system of “trapos” or traditional politicians.

Comelec commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal noted this was the first time that the CoCs for president reached more than 70 with more established political parties unable to submit a full senatorial slate.

“It seems that almost everyone wants to be the country's next president given the number of presidential bids filed before the legal department. It’s safe to say that while we are mandated to accept as ministerial duty all the bids, the en banc has a mandate to include only qualified candidates in the official list (of 2010 candidates),” said Larrazabal.