Murder suspect and suspended Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Rizaldy “Zaldy" Ampatuan does not want anything in exchange for his testimonies about the Maguindanao massacre case and past irregularities allegedly committed during the Arroyo administration.
Zaldy’s legal counsel Howard Calleja on Thursday made the assurance in light of speculations that Zaldy’s series of exposes was part of a plan to strike a deal with the Aquino administration so he could get exonerated from charges he faces.
“The Governor’s willingness to help the government carries no condition of any kind and was borne out of a genuine desire to offer the truth and bring closure to the issues at hand," he said in a statement.
Calleja said their camp has no other ulterior motive behind other than to “offer the truth to the government to help them and bring closure to the issues at hand."
The lawyer admitted that Zaldy himself had conducted his own “investigation" into the events surrounding poll fraud and that he was willing to share his findings with the government.
Asked up to what extent Zaldy might be willing to help the government, Calleja said: “[Zaldy] is willing to help the government in whatever capacity it desires with no conditions."
Zaldy’s only request, however, is for the government to provide protection for him and his family.
Calleja said his client remains confident he would be able to prove his innocence in the slew of charges hurled against him. Apart from 57 counts of murder, Zaldy and several of his relatives are also facing plunder charges and a complaint before the Anti-Money Laundering Council.
“Zaldy also speaks for the innocent prisoners suffering in jail and those currently hiding to avoid unjust prosecution," Calleja said.
Lacierda-Calleja ties?
In the same statement, Calleja also belied accusations made by private prosecution lawyer Harry Roque that Calleja met with presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda for a possible agreement with government in exchange for Zaldy’s testimony.
Branding Roque as “misinformed," Calleja clarified that he never “talked with, much less negotiated with Malacañang."
Calleja also said he and Lacierda were not classmates at the Ateneo Law School nor had they been “in school together at the same time."
“If Atty. Roque can prove that I negotiated with Atty. Lacierda, then I am willing to surrender my license. If Atty. Roque were to be proved wrong, is he willing to surrender his license as well?," he said.
For her part, Zaldy's wife, Bongbong Ampatuan, appealed to the public to afford her husband “justice and fair play," as well as let Zaldy speak about what he knows about certain controversial events. — MRT/VS
