Family of murdered jail warden laments inclusion of suspect in WPP

The family of a slain jail warden has urged Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to surrender accused-turned-witness in the November 2009 Maguindanao massacre case Akmad Ampatuan to the Cotabato City Regional Trial Court (RTC) where the latter is facing a 17-year-old murder case.

In a letter to De Lima last March 29, the family of jail warden All-Khail Tangki Mamalangkay sought her assistance in serving the arrest warrant against Ampatuan, former Datu Salibo town mayor.

Akmad, who was alleged to have masterminded the killing of Mamalangkay, was charged with murder before the Cotabato RTC Branch 13 on January 27, 1999. The victim's family, however, lamented that the case had since been archived due to the failue of police authorities to serve the arrest warrant issued against Akmad.

"Malakas at maimpluwensya si Akmad Ampatuan at kami na pamilya ng biktima ay walang magawa kung hindi hintayin ang pagkakataon na maaaring makamit namin ang hustisyang matagal ng ipinagkait sa amin (Akmad Ampatuan is powerful and influential and we cannot do anything but wait for the chance to get the justice we have long been deprived of)," Tangli Mamalangkay, mother of the victim and one of the signatories in the letter, told De Lima.

They said that de Lima's decision to place Akmad under the Witness Protection Program (WPP) has somehow dampened their faith in the legal system.

"Di po ba at ang DOJ [Department of Justice] ay mas dapat na unahin ang prosecution ng mga kaso lalong lalo na ang isang murder case na matagal nang nakabinbin? Sa paggamit ninyo kay Akmad Ampatuan bilang State Witness, paano naman ang kaso nya sa pagpatay lalonglalo na tulad nitong sa pagpatay nya kay Al Khail Mamalangkay na naganap labingwalong taon na ang nakalipas? Hanggang kailan po ba kami maghihintayng hustisya (Shouldn’t the DOJ resolve a murder case that has long been delayed? And with Akmad Ampatuan now a State Winess, how about the murder of Al Khail Mamalangkay which has remained unresolved for 18 years)?” the Mamalangkays asked.

SUMMER’S BEST THIRST QUENCHER – Commuters, who travel along the Picong-Pan Philippine Highway, can come to this shack located in Malabang, Lanao del Sur for a refreshing drink of slightly sweet young coconut or ‘buko’ water which restores electrolytes and moisture that the body loses during hot days. (Alexander D. Lopez)