MANILA, Philippines - A former aide of the Ampatuan clan detailed how the family allegedly gave their lawyer P50 million to try and bribe judges in the Maguindanao massacre case. The affidavit of Lakmodin Saliao led the court to issue a freeze order on more than 700 bank accounts of the Ampatuan family.
Saliao was once a loyal servant of the Ampatuans, but turned state witness after he felt he was next in line to be killed since he knew too much about the family he served.
Along with his affidavit, Saliao attached his identification card as an employee of the Maguindanao Provincial Capitol where he was hired as an administrative aide.
Aside from naming the banks where the Ampatuans keep their money, Saliao related how he would collect P50 million from the Provincial Treasurer every 11th and 15th of the month on orders of former Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr.
Saliao said Ampatuan Sr. would keep the money in a vault, or distribute them to his children for deposit in their personal accounts.
‘Extravagant lifestyle’
Saliao also related the extravagant lifestyle of the Ampatuans. He accompanied the family patriarch when he shopped one day for 36 [Toyota] Hilux vehicles in Davao.
He also joined a trip to Dubai where they stayed at the 7-star Burj Al Arab Hotel. He added Ampatuan Sr. was a casino habitué.
According to Saliao, a day before martial law was declared in the province on December 5, 2009, the Ampatuan family members emptied their vaults and carted away sacks of money, pretending they were throwing away garbage.
Saliao said this was done on orders of Ampatuan Sr. Among the list of frozen bank accounts are those of Attorney Redemberto Villanueva, lawyer of former ARMM Governor Zaldy Ampatuan.
In his affidavit, Saliao said on April 13, 2010, while Ampatuan Sr. was in the Camp Panacan Hospital in Davao, P50 million was given to Villanueva, allegedly to bribe judges to exclude Zaldy, Sajid, Anwar and Andal Ampatuan Sr. and Akmad Tato from the massacre case.
A source told ANC, the Anti-Money Laundering Council's (AMLC) examination of Villanueva's 2 accounts indicated a P52 million-deposit in one and a transfer of P56 million in another. Freeze order too late?
But some private prosecutors are worried the freeze order is too late. Some of the victims' families have sued the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and AMLC for their slow action in the plunder case. But Attorney Nena Santos believes otherwise.
She said it is also vital to prove the Ampatuans' alleged attempts to bribe members of the judiciary and Department of Justice.
In Wednesday’s preliminary conference on the massacre case, the defense once again named former President Gloria Arroyo as one of their witnesses, after retracting her name in a previous hearing
