Zaldy Ampatuan invokes right to silence

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines—Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao invoked his right to remain silent during a custodial investigation here by elements of the Central Midnanao police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group on Saturday. He refused to cooperate and answer questions when asked about the Nov. 23 massacre, said a police source who spoke on condition of anonymity. The source said Ampatuan arrived here around 9:15 a.m., escorted by the police and a seven-vehicle convoy from Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao, where he was earlier taken into custody by the military. Ampatuan, the source said, was immediately brought inside the CIDG office at the Camp Fermin G. Lira, Jr. here, where the investigation was immediately conducted. Journalists, who were waiting for Ampatuan’s arrival, were barred from the CIDG office. Police officers even tried to discourage journalists by saying he was no longer there. But the source admitted that ARMM governor was still inside the CIDG office although only his relatives and three lawyers were allowed to talk to him. “It’s not yet sure whether Ampatuan will be brought to Manila,” he said. A member of the panel of prosecutors organized by the Department of Justice said it was necessary to clarify if Ampatuan was under arrest, which is what the military had said earlier. If he was arrested, he should be referred to the DOJ for inquest, Leo Dacera, DOJ senior state prosecutor, said. Dacera said Ampauan’s status remained unclear because the prosecutors have not received any documents pertaining to him. Meanwhile, Ampatuan was also uncertain about his status, lawyer Emmanuel Fontanilla said. He said it was not clear to the ARMM governor if he was just invited for questioning or if he was already under arrest. But Fontanilla said Ampatuan was hoping that due process will be upheld. “Despite what happened, the governor still believes in due process,” he said. Fontanilla said Ampatuan was worried about his security inside the CIDG office despite the security being provided by the local police.