ShareThisMANILA —Relatives of the victims of the Maguindanao massacre have filed charges of money laundering against the Ampatuan clan, led by former Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr, their lawyer and their spiritual adviser.
Andal Ampatuan, the main suspect in the massacre of 57 people in southern Philippines, listens to his counsel at the courtroom in Manila
They also included in the charge sheets filed before the Anti-Money Laundering Council of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) former Presidential Adviser and Chair of the Mindanao Development Authority Jesus Dureza for his alleged role in helping the Ampatuan clan clear themselves of charges of rebellion.
Other respondents in the six-page complaint included former Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan, Ampatuan spiritual adviser Ustadz Farid Adas, former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) solicitor general Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi and her husband Omar Sayadi, and Ampatuan lawyer Philip Pantojan.
AThey were charged with violating the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001 and the Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
A witness testified that Ampatuan patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr. “ordered that P10 million be given to Jesus Dureza, the former Presidential Adviser on Mindanao Affairs, to ensure that the separate rebellion charges against the powerful family will be dismissed.”
The same witness had testified that Andal Sr., while detained at Camp Panacan in Davao City, gave away P386 million to his supporters “to bribe government witnesses, tamper with evidence and commit perjury.”
The witness claimed he personally counted P36 million in cash that Ampatuan Sr. had ordered him to get from Ustadz Farid Adas, the patriarch’s so-called spiritual adviser, and Omar Sayadi, the husband of lawyer Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi, who was then solicitor general at the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.
Financial reporters obtained a copy of the complaint filed by the relatives of journalists killed in the Nov. 23, 2009 Maguindanao Massacre before the Anti-Money Laundering Council on Thursday.
The charges were filed by Ma. Cipriana Gatchalian (wife of slain Santos Gatchalian Jr. of Davao-based Metro Gazette); Catherine Nuñez (mother of UNTV reporter Victor Nuñez); Zenaida Duhay (mother of Jose Duhay of Gold Star Daily in Tacurong City); Mary Jean Merisco (wife of Rey Merisco of Periodico Ini in Koronadal City); Glenna Legarta (wife of Bienvenido Legarta Jr. of Periodico Ini in Koronadal City); Editha Tiamzon (wife of Daniel Tiamzon of UNTV); Juliet Evardo (mother of UNTV editor Jolito Evardo); Myrna Reblando (wife of Alejandro Reblando of Manila Bulletin in General Santos City); Noime Parcon (wife of Joel Parcon of Prontiera News in Koronadal City); and Erlyn Idalo Umpad (mother of the minor child of UNTV’s McDelbert Arriola.
The case stemmed from the testimony in court of Lakmudin Saliao, a former aide of Andal Sr. turned prosecution witness that the Ampatuans were directly behind the Maguindanao massacre that left dead 57 people, including journalists.
He testified that during a meeting among Andal Sr., Andal Jr., Pantojan, Sayadi, and Dr. Tahil Sulay a conspiracy was hatched to cover the participation of Andal Sr. as wells as an alternative plan for the clan patriarch to evade arrest.