A 2009 Maguindanao massacre key witness was injured and survived an ambush, which is already the second in 2020 alone, Wednesday morning.
According to Lawyer Nena Santos, witness Mohamad Sangki, his bodyguard and driver, were on their way to the airport in Tacurong City. They were traveling along Tantangan, South Cotabato, when unknown suspects fired at them.
“Mohamad has no gunshot wounds but [sustained] body injuries due to impact of the vehicle on [two] cottages,” Santos said in a message.
“The driver is 50/50, but the prognosis is bad,” she added.
Santos pointed out that the ambush happened even when Sangki was accompanied by Witness Protection Program security personnel.
“Very bold na ang gustong pumatay kay Mohamad… daylight and with DOJ WPP security pa,” she said.
In March, Sangki and four others were also ambushed by unidentified gunmen in Shariff Aguak town in Maguindanao. The group survived the attack, which occurred near Maguindanao provincial hospital and the provincial police office.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra meanwhile said that he would task the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct a separate investigation in the shooting incident immediately.
“Sangki is a vital witness in the second wave or prosecution for the Maguindanao massacre, and it is not far-fetched that this ambush today had something to do with the horrible case,” Guevarra added.
Also read: Who were the victims of Ampatuan massacre?
Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis Reyes released the decision on the Maguindanao Ampatuan massacre verdict on December 19, 2019.
Former Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., the alleged leader of the killing force, and former Autonomous Region in Ex-Muslim Mindanao Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan were found guilty of killing 58 victims in one of the most violent crimes in the country.
The two Ampatuans are found guilty beyond unreasonable doubt and convicted to suffer Reclusión perpetua.
In a 761-page decision, the judge convicted 28 accused – including five members of the Ampatuan clan. However, 80 were still at large at that time.
As a result, Reyes ordered to reopen the cases in January 2020 after the remaining suspects of the Maguindanao massacre were brought to court.