Mangudadatu wants death penalty for the Ampatuans

The members of the Ampatuan clan who are accused of having a hand on the Maguindanao massacre should be sentenced to death penalty, according to Maguindanao Rep. Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu on Thursday.

"Ang gusto ko nga talagang bitay, lalo na 'yang si Unsay pati 'yung magkakapatid dahil grabe ang ginagawa nila. Hindi lang Maguindano massacare ang ginawa niyan," Mangudadatu told reporters in Camp Bagong Diwa ahead of the court's promulgation of decision.

Capital punishment was abolished in the Philippines in 2006 but as a member of the 18th Congress, Mangudadatu said that he is in favor of reinstating it.

"'Yung mga major crimes na katulad ng ganyan at 'yung mga rape, itong mga drugs na sobrang dami ng pumapasok sa atin," he said.

"Kung hindi nakadroga sina Unsay, kung hindi nakadroga silang magkakapatid pati 'yung tatay, gagawin ba nila 'yun? Walang iiwan? Gagalawin ba nila 'yung mga babae? Malaya naman tayo eh, nasa demokrasya tayo bakit ginawa 'yun?" he added.

Mangudadatu lost his wife and sisters, along with other political supporters, in the November 2009 massacre. At that time, he was challenging the Ampatuan clan for the gubernatorial post in Maguindanao for the 2010 elections.

Among the 101 accused who will hear judgment on Thursday are Akmad "Tato" Ampatuan, Sr., Andal "Unsay" Ampatuan, Jr., Anwar Ampatuan, Sr., Anwar "Ipi" Ampatuan, Jr.,  Anwar Sajid "Ulo" Ampatuan, Sajid Islam Ampatuan, and Zaldy "Puti" Uy Ampatuan.

Mangudadatu said the verdict which will be handed down by Quezon City Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes will gauge the strength of the country's judicial system.

"Ang importansya ng verdict ngayon, sa isang dekadang paghihintay, ay para makita ng taumbayan na may batas tayo, kumakagat pa rin ang batas at mahinto na rin 'yung sobrang pang-aapak sa mga tao," he said. —KBK, GMA News