Go denies attending Ampatuan wedding
SPECIAL Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go has denied that he attended the wedding of a daughter of Zaldy Ampatuan, a primary accused in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre.
In a media interview, Go said he was unaware that his name was included in the list of principal wedding sponsors and only learned about it in media reports.
On many occasions, according to him, he and President Rodrigo Duterte are often included in the list of sponsors for weddings and other events even though they are not informed or consulted about it.
“Many times, we are not informed by the invitees. Our names are placed without permission. We do not even know we are principal sponsors,” he said.
Go added that he was not at the wedding on August 21 because he and Duterte were in Cebu for a meeting of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines’ Visayas chapter.
The wedding of Bai Nor Aila Kristina Ampatuan to lawyer Mohammad Omar Samama became controversial because of the attendance of the bride’s father, who was granted furlough by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 for “humanitarian” reasons, and the inclusion of top government officials in the list of sponsors.
Ampatuan, his father Andal Ampatuan Sr. and brother Andal Ampatuan Jr. are among the main suspects in the Maguindanao massacre on November 23, 2009 that left 58 people dead, including 32 journalists and the wife of now-Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, who at the time was scheduled to file a certificate of candidacy for the 2010 elections.
Aside from Go, the list of sponsors included Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza.
When asked for comment, Sara confirmed in a text message that she “received a written invitation” but said that she “was not able to attend the reception.”
Medialdea, in a text message, also confirmed that he was asked to stand as principal sponsor by the Samama family but said he had to decline because of prior engagement.
Dureza said he did not attend the wedding because he was in Davao City for some events.
Go said that even though several government officials were invited to the wedding, Duterte has assured that justice would be served in a speedy manner to the victims of the Maguindanao massacre.
“This will not affect the case. The case will still move forward and we are all hoping for justice for the victims of the Maguindanao massacre. As Secretary [Harry] Roque [Jr.] said, we will continue with the pursuit of justice,” he added.
Malacañang has expressed its dismay over the furlough granted by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court even as it assured the brouhaha over the wedding would not affect the prosecution of murder cases.
“Officially, the panel of the prosecutors and the President oppose that motion and we’re dismayed that it was granted. That’s the official stand,” Roque said during a news briefing on Thursday.