ABS-CBN News
MANILA, Philippines – Relatives of victims of the Maguindanao massacre filed today a petition before the Supreme Court asking the court to investigate bribery allegations and alleged irregularity in the 11th division of the appellate court, which first handled the petitions for review of Zaldy, Andal and Akmad Ampatuan.
The Ampatuan petition questions the finding of probable cause against them in connection with the brutal killings. The case has been transferred to a special division of 5.
In the petition filed by the kin of Maguindanao massacre victims, petitioners raised a media interview (Philippine Daily Inquirer, dated March 25, 2011) with Atty. Howard Calleja, lawyer for Zaldy Ampatuan, where he was allegedly emphatic and positive about his client being granted bail soon.
“What makes him so sure about the good fortune about to befall on his client Zaldy Ampatuan, courtesy of the special division created by the appellate court? Why such confidence?” the petition read.
Petitioners asked the court to investigate this interview with Calleja.
The petition also cited another article (also of PDI, written by Ramon Tulfo dated Feb. 14, 2011) where the writer reportedly heard that “P200 million changed hands at the Court of Appeals to exclude Governor Zaldy Ampatuan of the ARMM in the Maguindanao massacre case.”
An investigation of the writer’s knowledge about the supposed bribery is included in the prayer of petitioners.
This February 2011 article led petitioners to investigate, and they allegedly discovered that CA Associate Justices Danton Bueser and Marlyn Gonzales-Sison – regular members of the 11th Division – have chosen to remain in the panel hearing the case of Zaldy Ampatuan but recused themselves from the case of his father, Andal Sr.
“Thus it was disturbing and unnerving for herein petitioners that the honorable justices Bueser and Gonzales-Sison would opt out of the clan patriarch’s petition but still take part in the proceeding on Datu Zaldy’s petition,” the petition read.
Petitioners maintained their inquiry is anchored on the fact that the arguments and evidence presented against the father are the very same presented against the son. Thus, a motion for the two justices’ inhibition was filed at the CA.
Another article written by Jomar Canlas and published in the Manila Times was cited in the petition where the possibility of Ampatuan being granted bail was also raised. Petitioners are baffled why the article made mention of Bueser and Gonzales-Sison purportedly voting in favor of granting Zaldy Ampatuan bail.
This supposed new leak is again, subject of the prayer of petitioners, which they also asked to be investigated by the high court.
Petitioners include:
-Ramonita Salaysay, widow of Napoleon Salaysay of Clearview Gazette (Cotabato City)
-Editha Tiamzon, widow of Daniel Tiamzon of UNTV-Gensan
-Juliet Evardo, mother of Julito Evardo of UNTV-Gensan
-Ma. Cipriana Gatchalian, widow of Santos Gatchalian, Jr of Metro Gazette(davao city)
-Myrna Reblando, widow of Alejandro Reblando of Manila Bulletin-Gensan
-Zenaida Duhay, wife of Jhoy Duhay of Goldstar Daily (CDO)
-Stephanie Lechonsita — daughter of Eduardo and Cecille Lechonsito who were mere passers-by also killed in the incident
-Editha Tiamzon, widow of Daniel Tiamzon of UNTV-Gensan
-Juliet Evardo, mother of Julito Evardo of UNTV-Gensan
-Ma. Cipriana Gatchalian, widow of Santos Gatchalian, Jr of Metro Gazette(davao city)
-Myrna Reblando, widow of Alejandro Reblando of Manila Bulletin-Gensan
-Zenaida Duhay, wife of Jhoy Duhay of Goldstar Daily (CDO)
-Stephanie Lechonsita — daughter of Eduardo and Cecille Lechonsito who were mere passers-by also killed in the incident
No comments:
Post a Comment