Friday, January 14, 2011

Plunder complaint vs Ampatuans filed

MANILA, Philippines - Seven relatives of victims of the Maguindanao massacre filed a plunder complaint on Friday against 25 members of the powerful Ampatuan clan.

Included in the complaint filed at the Ombudsman are former Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., massacre primary suspect and former Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Jr., former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Governor Zaldy and their wives and siblings.

Others named in the complaint are: Sajid Ampatuan, Anwar Ampatuan, Yacob Ampatuan, Akmad Ampatuan, Rebecca Ampatuan, Jehan-Jehan Ampatuan, Laila Ampatuan, Baibon Shahira Ampatuan, Bai Farida Ampatuan, Ameera Ampatuan, Michelle S. Ampatuan, Alibai Ampatuan, Shaydee Ampatuan, Bai Zandra Ampatuan, Bai Honee Ampatuan, Lady Sha-Honey Ampatuan, Bhanarin Ampatuan, Soraida Ampatuan, Zandria Sinsuat-Ampatuan, Michael A. Sulaik, Joemar Ayunan Olimpayan, And Kuzberi Lumenda Ampatuan,

The complaint is based on the investigative report of journalist Carol Arguillas who works for MindaNews in Davao.

The complainants are Ramonita Salaysay, Editha Mirandilla Tiamzon, Juliet Palor Evardo, Ma. Cipriana Gatchalian, Arlyn Lupogan, Catherine Nuñez and Myrna P. Reblando.

The complainants are seeking that the Ombudsman charge the named members of the Ampatuan clan for violation of the application provisions of Republic 7080 or Anti-Plunder Law, Republic Act 1379 or Forfeiture Law and Republic Act 3019 or Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act among others.

Listed in the complaint are 35 mansions owned by the Ampatuans in Davao alone. Eight of these are reportedly owned by Andal Sr., 16 by Andal Jr., and two by Anwar. Sajid and Rebecca own 3 houses each.

While the Davao City Assessor’s office has no record of Zaldy owning any house, it is believed he owns a mansion in Juna Subdivision. Zaldy's wife, Bongbong, owns two houses in Davao.

The properties are estimated to be worth P110 million.

Arguilles also discovered that the Ampatuans have 121 vehicles.

Fifty-three are new models of luxury cars, including 3 Hummers, 3 Land Rovers, 2 Suburbans, and 1 Humvee, a military vehicle.

Twenty-six of the vehicles are registered under the name of Andal Sr. but more than half of the cars found in the warehouse of Andal Sr.’s mansion in Maguindanao last December 2009 are not registered with the Land Transportation Office.

The Ampatuans' properties and vehicles combined could be worth P200 million.

The complaint does not include the Ampatuans' assets in Maguindanao, Cotabato City, Sultan Kudarat and Manila.

The victims' relatives who filed the complaint want the government to freeze and retrieve the Ampatuans' assets.

This is not the only plunder case the Ampatuans will have to face. Another group of victims' relatives is also preparing another case.

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