ATTY.

ROQUE CAUTIONS AGAINST

AMPATUAN ESCAPE
Atty. Harry Roque Jr, lead counsel for 15 media victims of the Maguindanao
Massacre, asked police authorities yesterday to ensure security in the
premises of the National Kidney Transplant Institute (NKTI), where principal
massacre suspect Andal Ampatuan Sr has lapsed into a coma.
Atty. Roque said that for humanitarian reasons, his clients will not oppose the
Ampatuan familys visit to the clan patriarch, who was accused of ordering
the gruesome crime nearly six years ago.
We are not opposing the Ampatuans visit to their father for humanitarian
reasons, but we strongly caution the PNP, the NBI and other national law
enforcement bodies to ensure that none of the accused can escape, Atty.
Roque said in a statement.
Zaldy, Datu Anwar Sr., Datu Ahmad, and Datu Andal ''Ipi'' Jr., all surnamed
Ampatuan, were allowed yesterday to visit their ailing father, Maguindanao
Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr, at the NKTI. Andal fell into a coma after
suffering from a heart attack.
The request to visit their ailing father was granted by Quezon City Regional
Trial Court Branch presiding judge Jocelyn Solis Reyes, on consideration of
the Ampatuan patriarchs grave health condition.