Ex-client Ampatuans also reached out to Panelo for help

Pia Ranada

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

Ex-client Ampatuans also reached out to Panelo for help

Rappler

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo says he introduced Ampatuan family members to President Rodrigo Duterte, who supposedly told them they should wait for the court to decide on their case

MANILA, Philippines – Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo admitted that yet another former client of his reached out to him for help with a legal matter – the Ampatuan family.

He revealed this on Thursday, September 5, when asked by a reporter in a press conference if another former client had asked for his assistance or intervention in a government process.

“Mayroon, Ampatuan. Ang kaso naman ng Ampatuan, I think one of the Ampatuans is at large…. ‘Yung mga kapatid niya on trial eh. They’re claiming inosente sila,” said Panelo.

(There is, Ampatuan. Their case has to do with one of them who is at large…. The siblings are on trial. They’re claiming they’re innocent.)

He did not mention any names, but said one of the Ampatuans who approached him was a lawyer and “assistant secretary” who is married to an Ampatuan.

The Ampatuan family members supposedly wanted him and President Rodrigo Duterte to intercede on their behalf. They wrote a letter to the Office of the President (OP) requesting an audience with Duterte.

At an event in Davao City held in honor of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, one of the family members supposedly just happened to be present. They approached Panelo and Panelo introduced them to Duterte. The President supposedly already knew them.

“They’re asking [for] the intercession of the President. I introduced them to the President. It turns out they knew each other from before. The President said, ‘Just wait for the judgment of the court. It’s with the court already,'” said Panelo.

Panelo, who is also chief presidential legal counsel, received a note from the OP referring the Ampatuans to him.

“I think they went [to the office] two weeks ago,” said Panelo.

He supposedly told them that since the OP referred the matter to his office, it will be futile for the family to insist on a meeting with Duterte because they will just be referred to him again.

“I said, just have her surrender and face trial,” said Panelo.

He has not responded to Rappler’s query if the case for which the Ampatuans had been seeking his help was for the 2009 Maguindanao massacre.

Panelo was lawyer to the Ampatuans during the trial over the incident, considered the  deadliest single attack on journalists in the world and the worst election-related case of violence in Philippine history.

He was hired as defense counsel by Andal Ampatuan Jr, son of alleged massacre mastermind Andal Ampatuan Sr, in 2014. Philippine Star article quoted him as saying that the Ampatuans were just “framed to seize political power.”

Ampatuan Sr died on July 17, 2015. Of the 197 charged, 97 remain in detention, including Andal Jr, while 11 are out on bail including his brother Datu Sajid Islam. Nine have been cleared, some due to deaths, while 80 are still at large.

Another Malacañang office, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security, is part of efforts to ensure a conviction. The Department of Justice expects a verdict before November 23 this year, the 10th anniversary of the massacre.

Panelo made the admission about the Ampatuans amid allegations of conflict of interest when he sent a letter on his ex-client Antonio Sanchez’s executive clemency bid to the Bureau of Pardons and Parole in February.

Lawmakers questioned the propriety of this given Panelo’s key post in the Palace and his background as Sanchez’s former lawyer.

But Duterte, on Wednesday, September 4, absolved Panelo of any wrongdoing. – Rappler.com

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!
Sleeve, Clothing, Apparel

author

Pia Ranada

Pia Ranada is Rappler’s Community Lead, in charge of linking our journalism with communities for impact.