De Lima questions timing of withdrawal of Ampatuans’ lawyers

Justice Sec. Leila De Lima (stock photo / screengrab from News5 InterAksyon footage)

MANILA — Justice Secretary Leila M. De Lima on Friday questioned the timing of the withdrawal of appearance of the lawyers of the Ampatuans in the trial of the Maguindanao massacre case.

The massacre claimed the lives of 58 civilians, including 15 women and 32 media practitioners in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao on Nov. 23, 2009.

Lawyers Sigfried Fortun, Andres Manuel and Paris Real have sent their separate notices of withdrawal to the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 221.

The three defense counsels are representing the 24 accused in the Maguindanao massacre case, the father and son, former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan, Sr. and former Ampatuan town, Maguindanao Mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr.

The withdrawal of appearance of the three defense counsels came in the heels of the differences between the public prosecutors and Atty. Nena Santos, lawyer of Maguindanao Gov. Ismael “Toto” Mangudadatu, and in the face of the readiness of the prosecution to rest the case against the 28 accused.

However, despite the withdrawal of Fortun as a lawyer of the Ampatuans, De Lima said that Fortun will also be summoned by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in the conduct of their investigation in connection with the allegations of bribery in the Maguindanao massacre case.

State witness Lakmodin Saliao had mentioned the name of Fortun who was allegedly ordered by Andal, Sr. to hand in the amount of P50 million to the prosecution panel.

The allegation of P50-million bribery was vehemently denied by the public prosecutors headed by Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III, the supervising undersecretary of the panel of prosecutors in the Maguindanao massacre case.