A government witness Wednesday said Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan knew and approved of a plan to ambush supporters of the Mangudadatu clan last November. Mohamad Sangki, a member of the Sangguniang Bayan of Datu Abdullah Sangki town and uncle of Ampatuan vice-mayor Rasul Sangki, said he was informed by a confidant of Ampatuan patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr. that the ARMM governor had also approved the plan to massacre supporters of the Mangudadatus. Sangki said he was informed as early as Nov. 19 that the Ampatuans were planning to stop the filing of certificate of candidacy of Buluan Vice-Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu, a political rival. He said it was Datu Bahnarin Ampatuan, mayor of Mamasapano town, who approached him and asked him to organize a police auxiliary force to block the convoy of Mangudadatu's wife, Bai Genalin. The wife was among those killled. Aside from Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., the prime suspect in the case, the other clan members have not been charged with murder, but in a separate case of rebellion which they allegedly launched long with their private army after the prime suspect was charged. Sangki's testimony corroborated the previous testimony of the Ampatuan vice-mayor, who had implicated members of the Ampatuan clan to the massacre of 57 people in Maguindanao province last Nov. 23. Defense lawyer Sigfrid Fortun, however, tried to impeach the witness's character by informing the court that Sangki has been indicted for three murders, is a suspect in an arson case, and is also under trial for another murder. Sangkil made his testimony before Mangudadatu took the witness stand. – ABS
