The Philippine Online Chronicles

Former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has been dropped from the list of possible witnesses to testify in the ongoing investigation of the November 2009 Maguindanao Massacre.

The idea of Arroyo testifying was originally floated by the lawyers of primary massacre suspect Andal Ampatuan, Jr.

The Maguindanao-based Ampatuan family, several members of which have been connected to the gruesome elections-related killing of 57 people, were known supporters of Arroyo during her term as president.

“Just because we say someone’s on the list doesn't mean it’s certain that she’ll be summoned. It's tentative and not final," clarified defense lawyer Marlon Pagaduan, who represents several policemen allegedly involved in the incident.

Lawyer Gregorio Narvasa II, legal counsel of Ampatuan, Jr. informed Quezon City Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes that Arroyo was being dropped from the defense witness list without offering an explanation.

"[Solis-Reyes] did not ask why,” Pagaduan added. “A judge does not ask why a witness is being dropped. Ampatuan's lawyers just said they were withdrawing Mrs. Arroyo, and the judge allowed it.”

Prosecution lawyer Nena Santos however, questioned why Ampatuan’s lawyers suddenly dropped Arroyo from the list.

"We just wonder why they had to remove her from the list,” said Santos. “Someone must have told them off.”

Santos added that she had heard from Justice Secretary Agnes Devanedera that Arroyo “got very angry” when she heard that she was among the possible witnesses for the defense. Other names included in the list were former Justice Secretaries Alberto Agra and Raul Gonzalez.

The defense has listed a total of 368 witnesses, while the prosecution has 227.

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