'Palace knew this could happen in Maguindanao'

By Lilita Balane, Newsbreak | 11/26/2009 7:13 PM

Biazon recalls warning aired by locals 3 months ago

MANILA - The head of the Senate defense committee revealed on Thursday that Malacañang had been warned as early as 3 months ago that bloodshed in Maguindanao would be inevitable if the government failed to address the tension between the warring political clans.

Senator Rodolfo Biazon, in a joint press conference with his son Muntinlupa Rep. Rufino Biazon, told reporters that the warning was aired by North Cotabato Vice Governor Manuel Piñol during a meeting with Senate committee members in Zamboanga City on August 28.

"What is the cause of the conflict in Maguindanao right now? It is the feud between Ampatuan, a big political family, and the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front). And, mind you, I have already forewarned Malacañang of an impending bigger trouble come 2010 elections because the Ampatuans are facing another big family, the Mangudadatus. The Ampatuans are being backed by the military, the government--and that sends the Mangudadatus towards the MILF orbit, and this could spell trouble in Maguindanao in 2010," Piñol was supposed to have said, according to a transcript of the meeting shown by Biazon to reporters.

Pinol said in that meeting in August that he had relayed this message to chief government peace negotiator Rafael Seguis.

More than 50 relatives and supporters of Buluan vice mayor Ismael Mangudadatu, as well as lawyers, journalists, and bystanders were waylaid and killed in Ampatuan town last Monday. They were on their way to file the certificate of candidacy of Mangudadatu, who would be challenging a son of Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. in the gubernatorial race next year.

"The Malacanang knew that there is an exploding political violence in Maguindanao," the senator said, adding that Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., the alledged mastermind of the massacre, and Mangudadatu are both with the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD party.

Senator Biazon alleged that on the day of the massacre, Malacañang even offered Mangudadatu the post of undersecretary in an unspecified agency, or a board seat in the National Power Corporation in exchange for dropping his plans to challenge an Ampatuan.

The senator also criticized the Palace for treating the Maguinadanao massacre as a political concern and not as a challenge to the rule of law.

He noted that instead of sending Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno to deal with the situation in the province, it instead sent presidential adviser for the peace process Jesus Dureza.

He also scored the statements issued by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and president chief legal adviser Raul Gonzalez, which supposedly sent a message that the government is incapable of handling the situation. Gonzalez had said that the authorities should be cautious in arresting suspects because they might retaliate. Ermita's plea was for suspects to surrender so they could be investigated.

"It is not the rule of law that is in the mind of Malacanang, but it is political accomodation for their political allies in Maguindanao," Biazon said.

Four days after Arroyo issued Proclamation 1946, placing the province under the state of emergency and ordered warrantless arrests of suspects linked to the massacre, Biazon said that no one has been arrested despite the fact that there are witnesses who've named the people behind the killing.

"What is Malacanang afraid of? Is it the physical damage or the skeletons in the closet, the closet of the 2004 and 2007 elections?" Biazon said. The senator was referring to the alleged rigged poll results in the 2004 elections involving Arroyo and former Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano and the alleged cheating during the mid-term elections in 2007. Investigation into the electoral fraud identified Maguindanao as one of the areas where the cheating operation was done.

The Biazons held the press conference near the Commission on Elections to announce that they would be switching the positions they will seek in 2010. The senator father will run for Muntinlupa congressman, while the congressman son will seek a Senate seat under the Liberal Party. (Newsbreak)

as of 11/26/2009 7:38 PM