Group to DOJ: Probe Ampatuan's release

MANILA, Philippines - A group opposing the death penalty on Wednesday called on the Department of Justice to determine why the evidence on one of the accused in the Maguindanao massacre case was considered weak by the Quezon City court. 

 

Rudy Diamante, spokesperson of the Coalition Against Death Penalty,  said the group is also surprised at the decision of the court allowing Sajid Islam Ampatuan, a son of former Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., to post bail.

 

Diamante said the multiple murder case against the Ampatuans is a non-bailable offense.

 

Members of the Ampatuan clan have been indicted for multiple counts of murder for the November 2009 Maguindanao massacre, where 58 persons were killed including 32 media workers. 

 

"Nagtataka lang ako bakit siya nabigyan ng bail? yung crime committed is henious crime.Pinagbatayan daw ng korte, weak yung evidence ng prosecution. So very important na pumasok diyan ang Department of Justice kung bakit na-conclude ng court na very weak ang evidence kay Sajid Ampatuan...precedents na ba yan sa lahat na kahit ganun kalaki na kaso?" Diamante said. 

 

He said the group is also wondering where Sajid got the P11.6 million he used for bail when the Ampatuan assets have been frozen by the government. 

 

"Paano siya nagkaroon ng ganung kalaking pera, di ba naka-hold ang pera nila dahil sa 58-counts na kasong murder? Saan kumuha ng ganun kalaking pera?

 

"Andaming preso na hindi naman ganun na ka-henoius ang crime ay hindi naman nabigyan ng pagkakataon to be out, to be out on bail, to be out on bail despite the guidance of the  Supreme Court on the granting of bail," Diamante added.