MikeLigalig.com

By Christian V. Esguerra
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MALACAÑANG YESTERDAY distanced itself from the mass murder in Maguindanao, saying it was “an incident between two families in Mindanao.”

“We cannot be affected by that… This has nothing to do with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo or the administration,” Lorelei Fajardo, Ms Arroyo’s deputy spokesperson, told reporters.

Asked if the administration had the political will to punish a close ally who might have been involved in the killings, Fajardo said: “If the public would know that we are sincere and that we are doing our best to give justice to the victims, I think that would vindicate us in case there would be impressions later on.”

The President has found herself in the eye of the storm owing to her close ties with Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. and his family, who are believed responsible for the massacre on Monday of political rivals, lawyers and journalists.

But according to Gabriel Claudio, her adviser on political affairs, Ms Arroyo has personally assured the Mangudadatu family that justice would be served.

She made the promise during emotional phone calls with Sultan Kudarat Gov. Datu Mangudadatu and Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu of Buluan, Maguindanao, soon after the massacre, Claudio told reporters.

“Disappointment is an understatement,” he said. “There is pain all over. The families of the victims are crying for justice. We cry with them. We weep with them. We share the pain, especially because the victims concerned are friends and members of the same political party.”

Asked if the Palace was willing to sever ties with the Ampatuans in case they were proven guilty, Claudio said: “You can be sure that politics will not get in the way. Justice will be served and the perpetrators of this crime will not go unpunished.”

Her ‘creation’

Former senatorial candidate Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III yesterday said the Ampatuans were a “creation” of Ms Arroyo.

“This is really an acid test for her,” Pimentel told the Inquirer. “What’s more important? The debt of gratitude because you are President because of their support, or the lives of the Filipino people and justice for those who lost their lives senselessly?”

Pimentel said Ms Arroyo owed a lot to the Ampatuans, particularly in the 2004 presidential election when they delivered the votes for her in the province over opposition standard-bearer Fernando Poe Jr.

Three years later in the senatorial race, Maguindanao delivered a controversial 12-0 sweep for the administration’s Team Unity ticket.

Pimentel said that with such incidents, the Ampatuans could always tell Ms Arroyo: “You owe us big time.”

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