‘No evidence’ linking Arroyo to Maguindanao massacre

IT WILL be futile to file a damage suit against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who was accused of condoning the Ampatuan clan’s alleged massacre of 58 people in Maguindanao two years ago, a lawyer said Tuesday.
“We have no direct evidence (against Arroyo). We will have to wait until she will be implicated by the witnesses in the massacre before filing any case,” Nena Santos, private counsel for 25 victims of the gruesome murders, said after her fellow prosecution lawyer, Harry Roque, sought P15 million in damages from Arroyo for her involvement in the killings.
Roque said each of his 15 clients will be asking P1-million damages for Arroyo’s continued support to the Ampatuans despite the murders in the province.
“Defendant’s refusal to ensure that the laws be faithfully executed in Maguindanao encouraged the culture of impunity perpetrated by the Ampatuans, leading to the Maguindanao massacre and causing damages to the heirs of the victims,” the 13-page complaint filed with the Quezon City Regional Trial Court stated.
The Ampatuans actively supported Arroyo’s drive against lawless elements, including the renegade members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as well as her election bid in 2004, which was marked by fraud.
In exchange, the Ampatuans dominated the impoverished province with the full backing of state security forces.
Led by former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., the clan also reportedly rigged the votes in the 2007 senatorial elections to ensure Arroyo’s hold on Congress.
However, beginning that year, the Senate began to be populated with opposition members. Accusations of cheating during the 2007 polls also resulted in her hospital arrest last week.
Sought for comment, Arroyo’s legal spokesperson Raul Lambino said he was not surprised with the petition for damages against the former leader.
“We were not surprised at all with this civil case. Who knows? Maybe even the death of Rizal will be blamed on the former President,” he told reporters.
On Monday, some relatives of the massacre victims urged Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to refuse former Armm Governor Zaldy Ampatuan’s bid to turn prosecution witness in the poll fraud case against Arroyo.
They said Zaldy has no personal knowledge about the plan to sabotage the results of the elections in 2007, saying he can only provide “mere generalities of little evidentiary value.”
The killings, which are considered the worst in the country’s political history, put a dent on the safety of journalists in the Philippines after the massacre claimed 32 press members.
The journalists are part of the six-vehicle convoy that escorted the wife of then Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu to file his certificate of candidacy for Maguindanao governor last November 23, 2009.
They were, however, blocked by a private army purportedly of Mangudadatu’s chief rival former Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., who is now facing multiple murder charges before the sala of Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes.
Around 95 of the accused have been arrested and more than 100 remain at large.
The massacre will mark its second year Wednesday, and Mass Communication students of the University of the Philippines (UP) are expected to wear black shirts to commemorate the carnage.
On the same day, also marked as the International Day to End Impunity, the university’s carillon bells will toll at 1 p.m. in memory of the massacre victims. This will be followed by a program at the Dambana ng Malayang Pamamahayag (College of Mass Communication Annex Lobby) from 1 to 1:30 p.m.
Students will then assemble at the CMC parking lot and march around the UP Academic Oval. Participants are expected to proceed to the University of Santo Tomas in Manila from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Participants will then march from UST to Mendiola Bridge near Malacañang at 4 p.m.
In a related development, Rowena Paraaan, secretary general of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), said protests actions will be held in Quezon, Cagayan De Oro, Baguio, Pampanga, Bulacan, Bacolod, Iloilo, Aklan, Leyte, Bukidnon, Davao, Sorsogon, Pagadian, Kidapawan, and Agusan del Norte to be led by their local chapters.
Other media groups such as the Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), and the Philippine Press Institute (PPI) and multi-sectoral organizations will participate in these activities.
Journalists in Cagayan de Oro City will participate in a “walk for peace and press freedom” from Rodelsa Circle to the Press Freedom Monument where Archbishop Antonion Ledesma will lead an ecumenical prayer rally.
A tree-planting activity will also undertaken at the Convention Center grounds before a torch parade along Session Road to the Peoples’ Park, Paraan said.
In Iloilo City, the NUJP chapter will lead journalists in a Mass and motorcade of media vehicles while balloons bearing the names of massacre victims will be released after the Mass.
Media groups led by NUJP in Bukidnon will also hear Mass and hold a candle-lighting activity and motorcade.
Similar protest actions will also be held in the United States, Canada, and Dubai led by the International Federation of Journalists and the International Freedom of Expression Exchange. (Virgil Lopez/AH/Sunnex)
Source : http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/11/22/no-evidence-linking-arroyo-maguindanao-massacre-191974

Clark Wine Center was built in 2003 by Hong Kong-based Yats International Leisure Philippines to become the largest wine shop in Philippines supplying Asia’s wine lovers with fine vintage wines at attractive prices. Today, this wine shop in Clark Philippines offers over 2000 selections of fine wines from all major wine regions in the world. As a leading wine supplier in Philippines, Pampanga’s Clark Wine Center offers an incomparable breadth of vintages, wines from back vintages spanning over 50 years. Clark Wine Center is located in Pampanga Clark Freeport Zone adjacent to Angeles City, just 25 minutes from Subic and 45 minutes from Manila.

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Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

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