Maguindanao massacre trial: The prosecution witnesses

It’s been almost two years since the Maguindanao murder trial began, and the prosecution team has presented around 70 witnesses who overcame fears of possible reprisals from the accused to testify in open court. The number represents a third of more than 200 witnesses the prosecutors intend to send to the stand. Despite the current pace of the presentation of evidence, private prosecutor Nena Santos thinks the panel is still making steady progress, considering that her team had to overcome a controversial shakeup in its composition early this year.   GMA News Online has prepared a partial list of the witnesses presented so far by the prosecution. Among them are farmers who happened to be near or at the crime site at Barangay Salman on the day of the killings, medical professionals who autopsied the remains, and victims' relatives who went beyond anger and anguish to recall the events surrounding one of the worst election-related attacks in Philippine history.   Principal witnesses   - Ampatuan Vice Mayor Rasul Sangki, who tagged Andal Ampatuan Jr as the mastermind in the killings. He said he heard Andal Sr order Andal Jr via two-way radio to carry out the attack. He also said he saw Andal Jr shoot the victims.   - Mohammad Sangki, a Sangguniang Bayan official in Datu Abdullah Sangki town, who said he witnessed the suspects flag down the victims and kill them at a hilly portion of the village   - Lakmodin Saliao, former househelp of the Ampatuans, who claimed to have seen and heard members of the clan planning the massacre over dinner on November 17 and 22, 2009   - Noh Akil, a councilman of Barangay Salman, who saw checkpoints being set up at Sitio Malating   - Norodin Mauyag, a farmer, who saw Andal Jr and his men flag down the convoy at Sitio Malating in Barangay Salman on November 23, 2009   - Akmad Abubakar Esmael, a corn farmer from Sitio Masalay, who testified that he saw the actual killing of the victims   - Amil Abdul Satar Maliwawaw, a farmer, who said he was near the checkpoint where the victims were flagged down   - Esmael Amil Enog, who claims to be a former member of the Ampatuan's private army; he testified that he drove 36 other militiamen from Shariff Aguak to a checkpoint in Sitio Malating   - Haical Mangacop, a farmer who accompanied Enog during the trip   -  Thonti Lawani, a 32-year-old local farmer, who saw Andal Jr and other armed men in a 'war-like' convoy driving up a hilly portion of the village on the day of the massacre   - Lagueden Alfonso, a local farmer who saw Andal Jr talking to alleged members of the Ampatuan clan's civilian volunteer organization along a highway in Salman village   - Elo Sisay, a member of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit who was detailed at a military detachment not too far from the crime site and heard the plan to ambush the victims   - Corporal Zaldy Raymundo, who testified that he saw policemen several days before and on the day of the massacre at Barangay Salman   Suspect-policemen   - Police Inspector Rex Ariel Diongon, prospective state witness who admitted that his first affidavit was fabricated to cover up the crime; he was made to sign an affidavit saying the checkpoint was set up due to a bomb threat.   - Police Inspector Michael Joy Macaraeg, another prospective state witness; the plan was dropped after the prosecution established that he was not among the lawmen who manned the checkpoint from November 20 to 22, and was only stationed at the checkpoint on the day of the massacre   - PO1 Rainer Ebus, another cop that the prosecution had planned to turn into state witness and who allegedly saw Ampatuan Jr and his men shoot the victims   Medico-legal experts   - Dr. Ricardo Rodaje of the NBI, who autopsied eight bodies including that of Mangudadatu's wife Genalin   - Chief Inspector Dean Cabrera of the PNP Crime Laboratory, who autopsied 12 bodies   - Dr. Reynaldo Romero of the NBI, who autopsied six victims   - Chief Inspector Felino Brunia Jr. from the PNP Crime Laboratory, who autopsied 14 victims and said some had shattered skulls due to gunshot wounds   - Dr. Rupert Sumbilon Jr of the NBI, who autopsied two victims and testified that he recovered metal fragments in their bodies   - Dr. Tomas Dimaandal of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao police, who autopsied three bodies   - Chief Inspector Raymond Cabling, also chief of SOCO, who said the victims died of multiple gunshot wounds and showed photographs he took of the crime site   Relatives of the victims   - Former Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu, who lost his wife and two sisters in the massacre   - Khadafeh Mangudadatu, older brother of Maguindanao Gov. Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu, who said he met with the members of the ambushed convoy before they set out for Ampatuan town   - Ramonita Salaysay, widow of Mindanao Gazette's Napoleon Salaysay; asking for P15.1 million in damages   - Editha Tiamzon, mother of UNTV reporter Victor Nuñez; asking for  P15.1 million in damages   - Noemi Parcon, widow of Joel Parcon, publisher of a Mindanao-based magazine; asking for P20 million in damages   - Myrna Reblando, widow of Manila Bulletin's Alejandro Reblando; she refused to specify exact damages, saying no amount of money could replace the life of her husband   - Juliet Evardo, mother of UNTV editor Jolito Evardo; asking for P15 million in damages   - Ma. Cirpriana Gatchalian, widow of Davao-based MetroGazette correspondent Santos Gatchalian Jr; asking for P16.1 million in damages   - Emily Lopez, cousin of media worker Arturo Betia; asking for P12.7 million in damages   - Lumangal Sabddula, wife of Farida Sabddula; asking for P26 million in damages   - Zenaida Duhay, mother of journalist Joy Duhay; asking for P15 million in damages   - Arlyn Lupogan, wife of journalist Lindo Lupogan; asking for P20 million in damages   - Bai Ayesha Vanessa Hajar Andamen, daughter of Bai Eden Mangudadatu-Andamen; asking for P3 billion in damages   - Fairodz Usman Demello, widow of driver Eugene Demello; asking for P30 million in damages   - Gloria Romero-Teodoro, wife of journalist Andres Teodoro of the Central Mindanao Inquirer; asking for P15 million in damages   - Lerma Palabrica, mother of Mercy Palabrica; asking for P120,000 in damages   - Merly Perante, widow of Ronnie Perante, a correspondent for General Santos City-based Mindanao Gold Star Daily; asking for P15 million in damages   - Estrella Razon, wife of journalist Fernando "Ranny" Razon; asking for P20.2 million in damages   - Femmalyn Magaway, cousin of Periodico Ini reporter Noel Decena; asking for P54,000 in damages   - Mohammad Palawan, Mangudadatu's uncle and husband of Rahima Palawan; asking for P256,500 in damages   Other Witnesses   - SPO4 Alejandro Ubag, local scene of the crime operative, who made sketches of the crime scene   - SPO2 Cixon Kasan, then officer-in-charge of the Buluan municipal police, who registered the confessions made by eyewitness Kenny Dalandag in the police blotter   - Elmer Piedad, ballistician from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), whose testimony was deferred after failing to prove his capability to testify in the trial   - Lawyer Ricardo Diaz, chief of the NBI counter-terrorism unit, who was the first to take the witness stand in January 2010; he took the testimonies of several witnesses in the crime, and gave the court a flash drive containing photographs taken by the military of the crime site.   - Jerry Atanoso, a videographer from the Provincial Planning and Development Office of Sultan Kudarat, who took footage of the crime site   - Representatives from Smart and Globe Telecommunications, who verified the time and date of the calls made by victim Bai Genalin “Gigi” Mangudadatu to her husband Esmael Mangudadatu.   - ELR/YA, GMA News