Prosecutors exerted all efforts to block Ampatuan furlough: DOJ

“The prosecution vigorously opposed Zaldy Ampatuan’s motion for furlough to attend his daughter’s wedding, but the court granted the motion for humanitarian reasons,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra told reporters Wednesday. (PNA photo)

MANILA — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has clarified that government prosecutors had firmly opposed the motion for furlough filed by former governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Zaldy Ampatuan, one of the respondents in the Maguindanao massacre case.

“The prosecution vigorously opposed Zaldy Ampatuan’s motion for furlough to attend his daughter’s wedding, but the court granted the motion for humanitarian reasons,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra told reporters Wednesday.

Guevarra’s remarks came in response to allegations made by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) that government prosecutors did not do anything to block Ampatuan’s request.

The case against Ampatuan in connection with the Maguindanao massacre is being heard at the sala of Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221.

The court, however, allowed Ampatuan to leave jail on furlough to attend the wedding of his daughter, Bai Nur Aila, in Pasay City last Tuesday.

In a three-page order dated Aug. 17, Solis-Reyes said the wedding of Ampatuan’s daughter is a “significant milestone to be cherished and remembered.”

“It is a momentous family occasion, which must be witnessed and attended by the couple’s loved-ones, especially the accused-movant who will personally bring his eldest daughter to the altar,” read the court order.

The wedding took place at Sofitel Manila last August 21. Ampatuan, one of the principal accused in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre, was allowed to attend from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) said Ampatuan was returned to his detention cell in Camp Bagong Diwa pursuant to the court’s order.

On Nov. 23, 2009, 58 people, 32 of whom were journalists, were killed in a massacre that was dubbed as the world’s worst single attack on the press.

The Ampatuan clan has been accused of masterminding the massacre to derail the political plans of rival Esmael Mangudadatu, incumbent Maguindanao governor, for the 2010 elections.