10 cops tagged in massacre want prosecution to rest case

MANILA, Philippines - Ten suspects in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre have asked a Quezon City court handling the case to order the prosecution panel to rest its case.

In a three-page motion filed before Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221, the lawyer of massacre suspects PO1 Herich Amaba, PO3 Rasid Anton, PO2 Hernanie Decipulo, PO3 Felix Enate, PO1 Esprielito Lejarso, PO1 Narnouk Mascud, SPO1 Eduardo Ong, PO2 Saudi Pasutan, PO1 Arnulfo Soriano, and PO1 Pia Kamidun said that the three years given to the prosecution to establish their case were more than enough.

The 10 policemen were members of the Provincial Mobile Group of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Police Regional Office.

“Hence, accused are invoking their constitutional rights of speedy trial and speedy disposition of the case,” defense lawyer Adilberto Golla Jr. said.

“We also ask the court to allow the accused to post bail for their temporary liberty,” Golla added.

The police officers were among the 197 suspects initially tagged in the massacre of 58 people, including 32 media practitioners.

Earlier this year, Decipulo committed suicide by jumping off the roof of his four-story prison at the Quezon City Jail Annex in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.

Despite his death, a court employee said that his name will remain in the charge sheet until it was ordered removed.

Another suspect, PO1 Johann Draper, has since been removed from the list as his case was earlier dismissed for lack of probable cause.

In their motion, the suspects urged the court to allow them to post bail, noting that the prosecution has already presented more than 15 witnesses.

“Despite of that, they failed to present a single witness to strengthen their case against the accused,” the motion added.