Court sets new date for Andal Sr.'s arraignment

Manila, Philippines - The judge hearing the “Maguindanao massacre” multiple murder case set yesterday the arraignment of former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. on June 1.

In the same order, Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes also directed the arraignment of Nicomedes Tolentino, alias Mohamad Datumanong.

Ampatuan Sr. is among the 196 accused in the multiple murder case in connection with the Nov. 27, 2009 massacre in Ampatuan town in Maguindanao. His co-accused in the multiple murder case include his son and namesake Andal Jr. and former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao governor Zaldy Ampatuan.

Solis-Reyes also deferred the arraignment of other accused pending the resolution of their motions questioning their indictment. These are Zaldy, Anwar, Akmad, Sajid and Saudi Ampatuan; Superintendents Abusama Maguid, Bahnarin Kamaong and Abdulwahid Pedtucasan; Chief Inspector Abdulgapor Abad; SPO2 Oscar Donato; PO3 Abibudin Abdulgani; and Police Officers 1 Sandy Sabang, Esmail Guialal, Abdullah Baguadatu, and Michael Madsig; Armando Ambalgan, Jonathan Ampatuan, Jimmy Ampatuan, Datutuhon Esmail, Edris Kasan, and Samsudin Daud.