Militiaman to take stand today

MANILA, Philippines - The judge handling the Maguindanao massacre trial has finally allowed a former militiaman accused in the case to testify in court in connection with his possible inclusion as a state witness.

Esmael Kanapia, one of the first two suspects arrested, is scheduled to take the witness stand today based on an order issued by Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221.

Kanapia is reportedly an eyewitness to the killings of 57 people, mostly media workers and relatives of Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, on Nov. 23, 2009. He will be presented  in the makeshift courtroom at the Quezon City Jail Annex in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City at 9 a.m.

Defense lawyer Sigfrid Fortun, however, still opposed Kanapia’s presentation, saying the prosecutor has already presented three eyewitnesses.

“Considering that there already had been three eyewitnesses, he will simply be corroborative,” he said.

Reyes, for her part, told Fortun to allow Kanapia to testify first before she makes a ruling on his testimony.