The attempt by the Ampatuans to make a deal with former Secretary Jesus Dureza for the dismissal of the Ampatuan cases was immediately rejected. And there was no P10 million bribe money given to the former official.
This was revealed by Datu Mastor Salendab of Buluan, Maguindanao who told the media in a press conference Friday that he decided to come out and reveal the story because he pitied Dureza whose name was implicated in an alleged bribery in connection with the Ampatuan cases. Salendab executed a sworn statement and distributed it to the media Friday. The affidavit recalled in detail his conversations with both Dureza and Andal Ampatuan Sr.
Salendab also revealed that several persons had tried to convince him to testify against the Ampatuans and to implicate Dureza but he refused, hinting that Dureza was being subjected to a “demolition job” .
Earlier, a prosecution witness, Lakmodin Saliao, charged Dureza that he made a deal with the Ampatuans to bring Datu Unsay to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroro in Malacanang. This was disproved by the fact that Unsay was brought by Dureza to Gen Santos City and turned over to then Justice Secretary Agnes Devenadera. Saliao.
In both his affidavit and during last Friday’s prescon, Salendab said that when he talked with Dureza in the latter’s residence in GSIS Matina relaying the request of the Datu Andal Ampatuan Sr. that he (Dureza) help in the dismissal of the Ampatuan cases in the Maguindanao massacre, Dureza categorically declined saying that it was something he could not do.
“I pity Secretary Dureza because I personally know that he never received any money from the Ampatuans. I would know because I was the only one tasked by Datu Andal to meet Dureza several times. Dureza even immediately declined to help, ” Salendab said in his affidavit.
Salendab said Datu Andal Sr. was then in detention at the Panacan military hospital and he was a frequent visitor. He was first sent by the Ampatuan patriarch to see Dureza because of rampant ransacking by unknown persons of Ampatuan properties in Shariff Aguak. He saw Dureza at the latter’s GSIS residence and Dureza called General Ferrer for assistance.
During one of his visits to see Datu Andal, he recalled in his affidavit Datu Andal saying: “Ikaw lang ang puede kung papuntahin kay Sec Dureza kasi kaibigan kayo”. I was then dispatched to see Dureza and ask him to help in the dismissal of the Ampatuan cases, he said.
Salendab said he first knew Dureza in 2004 when he approached the official to help in the hospitalization of Hadji Samir, brother of the late MILF Chairman Hashim Salamat. In 2007, he and his wife met Dureza in their Davao del Sur Seagull Resort. A few days after that visit, they were ambushed in Sultan Kudarat where his wife and a driver died.
Salendab said: “On this matter, I clearly recall that Secretary. Dureza was very categorical in his answer. He said that he could not help the Ampatuans on the pending cases considering that he was not in a position to help due to the fact that the issues and the cases were already in the hands of the department of justice. He said “kaso na kasi yan Datu. Ang mga abogado na ang makatulong dyan “. Dureza however said he would continue to help if there were more cases of ransacking of Ampatuan properties in sheriff aguak, the hometown of the Ampatuans.
When he pursued the matter by suggesting to Dureza that he would just tell Datu Andal that he (Dureza) would try his best so there was some positive response Dureza said: “Mahirap mag bigay nang ganong sagot kay Bapa kasi parang niloloko ko lang siya dahil talagang wala akong matulong tungkol sa kaso”.
When Salendab relayed to Datu Andal that Dureza declined, the Ampatuan patriarch appeared disappointed. But Andal said: “Di bale, malaking tulong naman ang nabigay na nya sa pamilya nang inayos nya and sitwasyon at naiwasan ang gulo nang kinuha niya si Datu Unsay”.
Dureza called Salendab immediately when news broke out that Dureza’s name was mentioned as having received P10 million. Dureza first asked him whether he had information about the P10 million because he was being accused of allegedly receiving the bribe. Salendab categorically denied that there was bribe money for Dureza. Then Dureza confronted him by saying that maybe Salendab had received something intended for him but kept it to himself (Salendab). He said he vehemently denied and told Dureza that something serious would have already happened to him if this was what actually happened.
Salendab during the presscon said he was willing to testify to shed more light in what he knew.
