Commission on Appointments confirms army officials’ promotion despite opposition from kin of massacre victims

CMFR/Philippines – The Committee on National Defense of the Philippine Congress’ Commission on Appointments confirmed on 22 October 2014 the promotion of two army officials who played crucial roles in the Ampatuan (Maguindanao) Massacre. This was despite opposition from the heirs of massacre victims during the committee meeting.

Maguindanao Rep. Zaid Mangudadatu, kin of several victims, and the CMFR, representing the Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists (FFFJ) Inc., opposed the promotions of Col. Medardo Geslani to Brigadier General and Lt. Col. Rolando Nerona to full-fledged Colonel. The two officers allegedly refused to provide security for the party of Genalyn Mangudadatu and other victims of the Ampatuan Massacre. FFFJ represents the families of 17 journalists killed in the massacre.

On 23 November 2009, Genalyn’s convoy was travelling to Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao to file the certificate of candidacy of Genalyn’s husband, Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu, for the 2010 elections. The party was diverted to a clearing in Sitio (Village) Masalay in Ampatuan town where they were murdered. Fifty-eight (58) persons, including 32 journalists, were killed.

During the deliberationon Wednesday, the Committee noted FFFJ’s opposition and heard Rep. Mangudadatu’s position paper.

The Committee then heard Geslani’s explanation. Geslani said that in November 2009, he referred the threat against the Mangudadatus to the Philippine National Police (PNP) because it was election-related and not within the army’s jurisdiction.

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, a former Philippine Navy lieutenant and the only senator present during the deliberation, accepted Geslani’s explanation. He said that if there should be “criminal negligence,” it should be with former defense secretary Gilberto Teodoro, who the senator said knew of the threat from the Ampatuans but only warned the Mangudadatus instead of giving orders to the army to provide security.

FFFJ legal counsel Prima Quinsayas described the promotions as “another black-eye” to the prosecution in the massacre trial; 16 of the accused were granted bail last week

On 13 October 2014, Branch 221 of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court under Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes granted the bail petitions of 16 accused police officers citing weak evidence of guilt.

“It’s also a psychological victory for the accused considering that the two officers are listed as defense witnesses,” Quinsayas added.