Ampatuan Jr. pleads not guilty

(UPDATE 3) MANILA, Philippines – The scion of a powerful political clan accused of leading last year's massacre of 57 journalists and members of a rival's family has pleaded not guilty in the first day of trial.

Andal Ampatuan Jr., a town mayor in southern Maguindanao province, is initially charged with 41 counts of murder in the Nov. 23 attack on an election caravan, the worst political violence in the country. 

He entered a plea of not guilty in the first day of trial Tuesday, which was held under tight security at the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City. 

Prosecutors said they have witnesses who will testify that he led more than 100 government-armed militiamen who escorted the victims to a hilltop clearing where they were gunned down, hacked and buried in mass graves.

Clad in a pink polo shirt, Ampatuan was accompanied by his lawyer Sigfrid Fortun during the arraignment before Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221.

The younger Ampatuan was not in handcuffs during the hearing, which started around 8:30 a.m.

Several policemen and agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) were inside the court room when supporters and members of the Mangundadatu clan, led by Buluan vice mayor Esmael Mangundadatu, and lawyers of the prosecution and defense panels were ushered into the hall.

People were subjected to strict security checks before entering the courtroom.

Among those killed in Maguindanao were at least 30 journalists and their staff in what is considered the world's deadliest single attack on media workers. The carnage has sparked international outrage, prompting President Arroyo to briefly impose martial law in the province to crack down on the powerful Ampatuan clan, a key political ally, and its private army.

Andal Jr.'s father, the former provincial governor who heads the clan, and several other close relatives also have been accused of involvement in the killings but have yet to be indicted. They too have denied any role in the massacre.

The victims included the family and supporters of the Ampatuans' election rival, Esmael Mangudadatu, who sent his wife, sisters and other female relatives to file his candidacy papers hoping they would not be harmed. Mangudadatu said Ampatuan had threatened to kill him if he ran for governor in national elections in May.

Mrs. Arroyo's political backing of the warlord clan, which helped her win crucial votes during the 2004 elections, has allowed the Ampatuans to flourish dangerously for years in Maguindanao, a predominantly Muslim province about 560 miles (900 kilometers) south of Manila, the International Crisis Group, a prominent think tank, said last month.

Mrs. Arroyo's aides have acknowledged her close alliance with the Ampatuans but said that did not authorize them to commit the crime. The Ampatuans were expelled from Arroyo's ruling party after the killings.

The hearing was adjourned until Jan. 13, when Fortun said he would ask for his client to be released on bail. Although murder is a non-bailable offense, Fortun said the evidence against Ampatuan was fabricated by his political rivals.

Prosecution opposes bail plea

The prosecution panel on the Maguindanao massacre case submitted sworn statements of witnesses in opposition to Ampatuan's petition for bail.

During the bail hearing, assistant chief state prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon also presented NBI director Ricardo Diaz as witness to affirm the statements before Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes. 

The sworn statements included those taken by investigators from Buluan vice mayor Esmael Mangundadatu, whose relatives were among those killed in the massacre. 

Taking the witness stand, Diaz, who has been in the NBI for 23 years, said he was tasked by NBI chief Nestor Mantaring to lead the investigation into the incident.

During the submission of evidence by Fadullon, Fortun repeatedly asked for the relevance of the testimony of Diaz in the bail hearing. 

Diaz narrated how they implemented the arrest on Ampatuan at the General Santos City Airport and the ensuing inquest proceedings by Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera. 

The prosecution said it will present 12 more witnesses in connection with the bail hearing. – With AP