Court to probe new source

Manila: The justice department will cross-examine a new witness who said he saw a meeting of a powerful Filipino-Muslim family that was blamed for the massacre of 57 people, including political rivals and journalists in the south last November, a radio report said.

"I ordered the panel prosecuting the massacre in Maguindanao to validate the testimonies of Lakmodin ‘Laks' Saliao," Chief State Prosecutor Richard Fadullon said in a radio interview.

"We will decide if we can use him as a witness after we have determined if he's telling the truth, and after we have learned about his motive in coming forward," said Fadullon.

In an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN, Saliao said he attended a meeting of the Ampatuan family at the house of Ampatuan Snr., in Bagong village, Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao on November 16, six days before the November 23 massacre.

Family members plotted to stop a political rival, Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu, vice-mayor of Buluan, from filing a certificate of candidacy for the gubernatorial race in Maguindanao in the May 10 elections, said Saliao, adding that all the sons and several daughters of Ampatuan Snr., attended the meeting.

Saliao, a trusted aide, said he was seated at the side of the Mangudadatu patriarch during the meeting.

Bai Rebecca Ampatuan, who was at a pilgrimage to Makkah and Bai Zoraida Biruar, were absent.

A second meeting was conducted on November 21, in the house of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov Zaldy Ampatuan, to decide who would set up the check point, be involved in the massacre, and be in charge of the cover-up.