Dureza says it's a 'clear fabrication'

MANILA, Philippines (2nd UPDATE)  - Prosecution witness Lakmudin Saliao continued on Wednesday his explosive testimony against his former boss, this time tagging the Ampatuan patriarch in a bribery spree to have criminal charges against the members of the family dropped.

During the 2nd day of trial of the Maguindanao massacre case, Saliao said former Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan, Sr. ordered his spiritual adviser to transmit millions of money to several government and police officials to make life easier for his family.

On top of his list is former Presidential Adviser on Mindanao Affairs Jesus Dureza who was allegedly bribed P10 million to have a separate rebellion charge dropped.

The Ampatuans were also slapped with a rebellion case for allegedly disrupting government offices at the height of investigations. The government had implemented martial rule in some parts of Maguindanao to rein in the Ampatuans.

The rebellion case came after the massacre of 57 civilians on November 23. The Ampatuans allegedly masterminded the killings.

The Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 77 quashed the rebellion charges early this year. A motion for reconsideration has yet to be resolved.

Saliao, who directly linked Andal’s son and namesake to the execution of the killings, said Chief Inspector Sukarno Dicay and police officer Rainier Ebus were given P10 million each for them to retract earlier testimonies.

Another P20 million was also given to Maguindanao board member Mike Midtimbang to ensure the family’s welfare while under incarceration.

The Ampatuan patriarch supposedly gave the directives on March 11.

Prior to that, on February 28, Ampatuan Sr. supposedly instructed his spiritual adviser to give P200 million to Umbra Sinsuat, the Ampatuan’s then candidate for the position of Maguindanao governor.

The adviser, known only as Ustaj Sarid Agas, was also ordered to give P36 million to Omar Sayadi, the husband of a Maguindanao administrative officer.

Saliao also revealed that Ampatuan Sr., then under hospital arrest inside a military camp in Panakan, Davao City also ordered a son-in-law working with the Land Transportation Office to tweak the records of cars registered under their names.

Private prosecutors said they will ask the Anti-Money Laundering Council to track the bank records of the Ampatuans.

They will also start the filing of administrative charges against those who supposedly took part in bribing witnesses and families of the victims.

'A clear fabrication'

Dureza, however, denied the allegation made by the witness.

In an interview with ANC's On the Scene, Dureza said he wished the claims were true so that he would be P10 million richer.

"It's a clear fabrication, if not outright amusing, since it's on a matter which is totally not in my hands, as the justice department and the courts were in full control after I turned over the custody of Unsay to Secretary [Agnes] Devanadera," he said in a statement.

"These fabrications are unfair to me as throughout my government career, I have endeavored to act in the most appropriate manner in all my actuations," he said.

"I wait for my chance to testify and give my side in the Ampatuan case," he added.

Dureza noted he was first accused of making a deal with the Ampatuans for custody of Andal Jr. "That would have been plausible but totally untrue. Now, I am being accused that I made a deal for the dismissal of the rebellion case for million."

In jest, he asked: "Come to think of it, will I expect delivery of the millions if, by chance, the rebellion charge is dismissed?"

With this new allegation against him, Dureza said, "Now, I recall with more amusement what my colleagues in the previous Cabinet were ribbing me about the alleged missing Ampatuan funds when the raiding teams found empty vaults."

"These are all fabrications and which are better threshed out in court when I am called to testify," he said.

More witnesses to corroborate Saliao

Private prosecutor Nena Santos, representing the Mangudadatus, said the prosecution will be presenting more witnesses that will corroborate the testimony of Saliao.

Speaking to ANC, she said there is enough documentary and video evidence that shows Saliao was working for the Ampatuans at the time of the massacre. She said Saliao personally handled the money that was used to bribe government and police officials upon the instructions of the Ampatuan patriarch.

Santos refused to identify the next prosecution witness due to security reasons. She added that Saliao could be summoned again to the witness stand since only Unsay Jr. is being tried today.

The lawyer said she is preparing a letter asking the Supreme Court to lessen the load of the judge handling the Maguindanao massacre case so that the trial will be finished quickly.

She added that her camp is also preparing charges against the Ampatuans for trying to bribe some of the prosecution witnesses to back out of the case.

"We are still preparing the documents for that. We will be filing the appropriate cases," she said. – reports from Ces Drilon, ABS-CBN News