Prosecutors in Ampatuan case favor continuous trial

MANILA, Philippines - Prosecutors have agreed to the defense’s appeal for the continuous trial of Andal Ampatuan Jr. before a Quezon City court, but said this should not be limited to the suspect’s bail petition but the entire case.

“For the record, the prosecution is in favor of continuous trial not only in connection with accused Ampatuan Jr.’s application for bail, but also for the continuous trial of all the accused, as far as practicable until terminated,” they said in a comment filed before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221.

Ampatuan has asked the court to order a continuous trial of his petition for bail, claiming the prosecution has a “predilection to delay the proceedings.”

But the prosecutors said it was incorrect for the suspect to accuse them of delaying the proceedings in the bail hearings.

They said they suspended the proceedings set last Sept. 8 because their witness was exhausted.

“The accused cannot now interpose this belated objection by imputing to the prosecution its alleged predilection to suspend the proceedings,” they said.

Prosecutors cited that during a hearing last Sept. 15, Ampatuan’s counsel moved to stop the hearing despite the prosecution’s objection.