Governor Zaldy Ampatuan of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) supported the plan to ambush the convoy of the political rival of his nephew in November, a witness testified before the local court Wednesday.

Mohamad Sangki, a member of the Sangguniang Bayan of Datu Abdullah Sangki, said he was informed by Datu Bahnarin Ampatuan, mayor of Mamasapano, that the ARMM governor attended a meeting with Nori Unas, the provincial administrator of Maguindanao, Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., and other ranking officials days before the November 23 killings.

“I asked him [Bahnarin Ampatuan] about how strong our action was going to be? He said he just came from a party convention in Manila. Argee, Nori and the old man, together with other ranking officials, they all support the old man,” Sangki told the makeshift court at the national headquarters of the Philippine National Police in Camp Crame during the resumption of the trial of Ampatuan Jr. for the Maguindanao murders.

When the prosecutor asked who Nori was, Sangki identified him at the provincial administrator of Maguindanao.

When the prosecutor asked again who Argee was, Sangki said it was Ampatuan Jr.

And when the prosecutor asked who the “old man was,” Sangki said, “It was Governor Zaldy.”

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