By Reinir Padua and Aie Balagtas See
(The Philippine Star) Updated August 07, 2010 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo tops the list of more than 300 witnesses for Andal Ampatuan Jr., his father and namesake, and the other accused in the massacre of 57 people in Maguindanao in November last year.
Records of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 showed that the Ampatuans’ lawyers had voiced their intention to have Mrs. Arroyo stand as defense witness in the trial.
But when sought for confirmation, defense lawyer Sigfrid Fortun bluntly said “no†in a text message.
The Ampatuans were political allies of Mrs. Arroyo when she was president. It was widely believed that the powerful clan had helped Arroyo win in the 2004 presidential elections, through coercion and manipulation of votes.
Other possible defense witnesses were former defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro, former press secretary Jesus Dureza, former presidential political advisers Gabriel Claudio and Prospero Pichay, and former justice secretary Raul Gonzalez.
Also mentioned as potential witnesses during the hearing were former Eastern Mindanao Command chief Lt. General Raymundo Ferrer and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.
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