The backhoe operator who allegedly was ordered by the masterminds to dig the graves of the victims of the mass execution in the 2009 “Maguindanao Massacre’’ case asked a Quezon City court to reconsider its order for his arraignment and transfer to the jail facility at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City.
In a four-page urgent motion filed before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221, Bong Andal, through his counsel Romarico Ayson, asked Judge Jocelyn Solis Reyes to reconsider her earlier order as the prosecutors have not fully evaluated his testimony and are not fully aware of its intricacies.
The motion noted that during the initial evaluation, Andal has not fully divulged what he knew about the massacre as he feared the prime accused the Ampatuans may inflict harm on his father and brother who were working for some members of the political clan.
“The order of this Honorable Court ordering his transfer to Quezon City Jail Annex (QCJA) would put his life at risk as he is willing to testify against the other co-accused,” the motion added.
The motion noted that Andal’s father and brother will soon testify on a plunder case but it did not state whom the two will testify against.
Andal, who is currently detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame was arrested on Nov. 24, 2012 in Midsayap, North Cotabato in an entrapment operation conducted jointly by the local police and the Army’s 40th Infantry Battalion.