Maguindanao massacre trial begins today

MANILA, Philippines - The much-awaited trial of the Maguindanao massacre case against members of the Ampatuan clan will open in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig today, with prosecution lawyers hoping there will not be more delays.

Private prosecutor Nena Santos said the delays will “break the momentum” of witnesses who wanted to testify a long time ago.

“The longer the trial will be delayed the more the witness will be subjected to some threats or some payoffs,” she said.

The trial was originally set for Sept. 1.

However, Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes postponed it after Sigfrid Fortun, lawyer of principal suspect Andal Ampatuan Jr., asked for more time to file their comment on the pre-trial order.

Judge Solis-Reyes assured the victims’ relatives, who had come all the way from Mindanao, that she would no longer allow any more delays in the trial.

Lawyer Harry Roque said the previous postponements have already “tested the patience” of the victims’ kin.

“Another setback would only encourage them (the families) to think that there is no rule of law in the country,” he said.

Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Navera said they will present today “an important witness” whose testimony would be “crucial” to the case.

“Any move to hamper the proceedings will be vehemently opposed,” he said.

Roque said he will propose a continuous trial and a special court, which will only hear the murder case.

The case might “take forever” unless new approaches and strategies are adopted, he added.

Ampatuan asks CA to void DOJ resolution

Former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao governor Zaldy Ampatuan has asked the Court of Appeals to void a resolution of former justice secretary Alberto Agra reversing his earlier decision clearing him and co-accused former Maguindanao vice governor Datu Akmad Ampatuan Sr. of involvement in the Maguindanao massacre.

He accused Agra of committing “blatant error” and “grave abuse of discretion” in hastily reversing his previous decision.

“With due respect, petitioner humbly submits that the justice secretary clearly erred and committed grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack and/or excess of jurisdiction in issuing the assailed resolution dated May 5, 2010 because he grossly violated petitioner’s constitutionally guaranteed right to due process by admitting new alleged evidence for the purpose of the second resolution that did not exist and was not part of the record at the time he issued his first resolution,” he said. – Aie Balagtas See, Edu Punay, Reinir Padua