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RASUL Sangki, vice mayor of Ampatuan town, yesterday tagged former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. as having told his son, Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. to decide on the fate of 57 persons massacred in Ampatuan town last Nov. 23.

The trial resumed yesterday at the Police Non-Commissioned Office Clubhouse in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Quezon City Judge Jocelyn Solis Reyes was scheduled to hear the petition for bail filed by the camp of Ampatuan Jr. but opted to hear the testimony of Sangki which she said will be vital in her decision on the bail petition.

Sangki said he was in Manila on Nov. 19 to attend a meeting of the Lakas-CMD when he received a call from an unknown number which he later found out was Ampatuan Jr.’s.

As vice mayor of Ampatuan town, Sangki said Ampatuan Jr. informed him that they would set up a checkpoint in his area to be manned by the Datu Unsay mayor’s men after Ampatuan Jr. received reports that the Mangudadatus would pass by Ampatuan town for the filing of candidacy for governor of Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu.

Sangki said he readily acceded to Ampatuan Jr.s’ request.

The following day, Sangki said he returned to Maguindanao via a commercial flight which landed in General Santos City. From there he proceeded to his house in Ampatuan town.

Later that day, Sangki said he received information from his driver that he should call Ampatuan Jr.

He said the Datu Unsay mayor instructed him to go to Saniag Crossing in Ampatuan town.

"Pagdating ko doon sa Saniag Crossing, sinabi sa akin ni Datu Unsay (which was also how he called the mayor) ang plano na kapag dumaan ang mga Mangudadatu ay a-ambush-in natin, pero papasukin muna sa Sitio Malating (also in Ampatuan town)," Sangki said.

When asked why he complied with Ampatuan Jr.’s order for him to meet the latter at Saniag Crossing, Sangki said: "Kasi kung hindi ako sumunod ay baka magalit sa akin si Datu Unsay. Kasi kinatatakutan siya sa province naming. Kundi ako sumunod ay baka magalit."

On Nov. 23, Sangki said he was in the municipal hall of Ampatuan town where he was supposed to meet with members of the Sangguniang Bayan.

Moments later, Sangki said Kali Abolais, the uncle of Ampatuan Jr., arrived to inform him that the Datu Unsay mayor told him to proceed to Saniag Crossing. He said he agreed.

Sangki said he used a Toyta Hi-lux together with one Mohammad, two SB members, his father’s driver, and three members of the auxiliary force in going to Saniag Crossing.

He said they there they met Ampatuan Jr. who was with one Jun Pendatun, Pasial Ampatuan and the Datu Unsay mayor’s men armed with M60 machinegun, M16 rifles, M14 rifles, baby armalite with M203 grenade launchers, AK 47, and a weapon which he described as bazooka-like.

He said he had a chat with Ampatuan Jr., until Jun Pendatun left the place on orders of the Datu Unsay mayor.

‘AMA’

He said Ampatuan Jr.’s party was on board a sangguko (a truck built to make it look like a 6x6 military truck) mounted with two .50 cal. machineguns and two .30 caliber machineguns, two black Toyota Hi-lux, 2 Hummer vehicles.

Sangki said afterwards, Ampatuan Jr.’s nephew, Datu Siam Saudi Ampatuan, arrived at Saniag Crossing. It was at this point, Sangki said, that Ampatuan Jr. told Datu Siam: "Doon ka na lang kay Ama. Hintayin na lang natin ang tawag ni Ama."

Sangki said that as far he knows, "Ama" is Ampatuan Sr.

Moments later, Sangki said that someone called up Ampatuan Jr. through his handheld radio.

He said he later learned it was Chief Insp. Sukarno Dicay, the former deputy provincial director of Maguindanao.

Sangki said Dicay had been updating Ampatuan Jr. on the whereabouts of Mangudadatu’s convoy.

Dicay also reportedly told Ampatuan Jr. details about the convoy, saying that the lead vehicle was a black Pajero-type vehicle and on its tail was a vehicle with markings "dzRH."

"In-alerto na ni Datu Unsay ang mga tao niya at ang sabi pagdating ng convoy ay papasukin muna bago iharang ang sangguko sa likod ng convoy…Natatakot na ako noon sa usapan nila at baka magka-barilan," Sangki said.

This time Ampatuan Jr. called Dicay on the handheld radio. Dicay allegedly said that the convoy of the Mangudadatus was blocked by his forces.

"At dinala na ang convoy sa Sitio Malating," Sangki said.

GUN AIMED

In Sitio Malating, Sangki said he saw Dicay aiming his gun at persons who were with the convoy and ordered them to lie face down on the ground.

"Si Datu Unsay ay may mga kasamang mga pulis at ilan sa tao niya at inaangat ni Datu Unsay ang mga ulo ng mga nakadapa na parang may hinahanap," Sangki said.

"Sumunod ang mga tauhan niya kay Datu Unsay, yung iba pinag-papalo ang mga nakadapa, at kinuha ang mga cellphones at video cameras ng mga media," Sangki said.

"Natatakot na ang mga tao na kasama sa convoy kasi nakatutok na ang mga baril. Yung iba nagmamaka-awa pa. Yung iba ay pinabalik sa L-300 habang pinapalo sa likod at tinutulak ng mga tao ni Datu Unsay," he added.

He said that at one point, he could not see Ampatuan Jr. until he later heard two gunshots coming from where the Datu Unsay mayor was. He said Ampatuan Jr. was with Kanor Ampatuan.

He said that Ampatuan Jr. told him to join their group in transferring the convoy to another location.

He said it was at that instance when Ampatuan Jr. reportedly radioed his father Ampatuan Sr.

"Ama, nandito na sila," Sangki said quoting Ampatuan Jr. who spoke in the native dialect Maguindanaoan.

Ampatuan Sr. reportedly replied: "Alam mo na ang gagawin."

Ampatuan Jr. then ordered the convoy to brought to Sitio Masalay in Barangay Salman, the killing field.

"Habang papunta kami sa Sitio Masalay sinabi ko kay Datu Unsay na baka puwede pa pag-usapan yan. Sabi niya ‘huwag ka magsalita at pagod ako,’" Sangki said.

Once there, Ampatuan Jr. stood in front of the members of the convoy.

SHOOTING STARTS

At that point, a local mediaman whom Sangki identified as Jimmy Pal-ag approached Ampatuan Jr. to remind him that he knew the Datu Unsay mayor.

"Datu, si Jimmy ito," Sangki said, quoting Pal-ag. But Ampatuan Jr. reportedly paid no heed to Pal-ag who was then whisked away with two women who were later identified as Bai Eden Mangudadatu and Bai Genalyn Mangudadatu, both relatives of Toto Mangudadatu.

"Dito na sinumulan ni Datu Unsay ang pagpalo sa mga tao…At dito na rin pinagbabaril ni Datu Unsay si Jimmy at ang dalawang babae (Bai Eden and Bai Genalyn). Sangki said Datu Kanor Ampatuan started to shoot the others using a K3 sub-machinegun. Ampatuan Jr. used a baby armalite with an M203 grenade launcher.

Sangki said Ampatuan Jr.’s men then opened fire with an AK47, an M60 machinegun, a K3, and M16s.

Defense lawyer Sigfied Fortun asked why Sangki kept Ampatuan Jr.’s plan to himself until after he executed an affidavit at the NBI headquarters in Manila last Dec. 11.

Fortun said that since Sangki was also related to the Mangudadatus, he should have informed the latter of Ampatuan Jr.’s plans.

"Vice Mayor Sangki simply wanted to cover up," Fortun said.

Judge Reyes scheduled the next hearings on Jan. 27, and Feb. 3, 10, 17, and 24.

PICKET

Members of the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP), College Editors’ Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) and The November 23 Movement wearing black shirts picketed PNP headquarters in Quezon City, to demand justice and appealed for a speedy trial.

The journalists brought streamers, placards and chanted slogans and sang patriotic songs.

NUJP had earlier aired its demand for live media coverage of the trial of Ampatuan Jr., saying it would ensure fairness and transparency to all parties concerned.

In a one-page letter to Judge Reyes, NUJP vice chairman Jose Jaime Espina said they understand the court’s concern to preserve order and ensure the proceedings would not turn into a miscarriage of justice.

However, Espina added that they are "also concerned that the rigid limitations imposed on coverage may affect the accuracy and quality of coverage and jeopardize the people’s right to information" about the Ampatuan multiple murder cases.

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) is busy with security preparations for the proposed transfer of the Ampatuans to its CRADLE facility in Bicutan, Taguig.

BJMP Director Rosendo M. Dial said he has already tasked BJMP National Capital Region Director, C/Supt. Serafin Barretto Jr. to plan ahead and be ready for the Ampatuans, as the QC RTC may issue an order for the transfer of custody of the massacre suspects to the BJMP facility.

Dial said the four-storey CRADLE facility in Bicutan, which previously housed juvenile offenders, shall be utilized as the temporary jail facility of the Ampatuans while undergoing court trial.

He said the CRADLE facility is one of the safest, most secure facilities in NCR as it is also inside Camp Bagong Diwa. "It is bigger, isolated and enclosed in high concrete fences and can easily accommodate all the accused."

Barretto said CRADLE has already undergone security inspection by BJMP and PNP teams and only needs installation of additional security measures like CCTV cameras. – With Angela Lopez de Leon and Gerard Naval

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