Ampatuans not involved in killing of massacre witness—lawyer

MANILA, Philippines – A lawyer of the powerful Ampatuan clan insisted Friday that his clients were not in any way involved in the killing last week of a key witness in the Maguindanao massacre.

"Definitely, no. They have nothing to do with [the] killing of a man in Parang," Lawyer Philip Pantojan told reporters at a press conference in Makati City.

He said he only learned about the killing of witness Suwaib Upham, also known as Jesse, through the newspapers on his flight from Davao to Manila.

"We will study this. The Ampatuans will join the government in the speedy investigation of this case," Pantojan said.

He said they were studying every killing related to the Ampatuan case.