Andal Sr. seeks arraignment

Manila, Philippines - After several pleas by the prosecution, lawyers for Maguindanao massacre suspect Andal Ampatuan Sr. are now the ones requesting for his arraignment for the murder of 57 persons in Ampatuan town on Nov. 23, 2009.

Ampatuan’s lawyers filed last Thursday a motion asking him to be arraigned on Wednesday next week in connection with the “Maguindanao massacre” multiple murder case. They asked Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221, to allow a Maguindanao-speaking interpreter to assist Ampatuan Sr. The court has yet to rule on this pleading.

In a related development, Solis-Reyes granted a recommendation by Chief Inspector Ma. Victoria Valeria, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology health service chief, that Ampatuan undergo full medical examination by his personal physician, Dr. Glenn Santos.

Valeria made the recommendation after diagnosing Ampatuan, who earlier complained of a swollen left ankle joint, to be suffering from osteoarthritis.

However, government prosecutors are saying there is high risk that Ampatuan will flee if his request for hospital confinement is granted.

Meanwhile, police arrested the 90th suspect in the Maguindanao massacre during an operation in General Santos City Thursday night.

Kamper Silongan, alias Jun, was a member of a private armed group serving the Ampatuans.

Chief Superintendent Benito Estipona, director of the Task Force Maguindanao, said Silongan is one of the 195 suspects facing multiple murder charges and carried a P250,000 bounty on his head.

He said with Silongan’s capture, 90 of the 195 have been arrested and 105 are still being hunted down. Of the 105 fugitives, 19 are members of the Ampatuan clan. 

– Reinir Padua, Cecille Suerte Felipe