Ampatuan son, nephew seek to postpone arraignment

MANILA, Philippines - A son and nephew of former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. has sought the postponement of their arraignment for the multiple murder charge filed in connection with the 2009 Maguindanao massacre.

In a five-page motion, lawyer Paris Real – representing suspects Sajid Islam Ampatuan and Akmad “Tato” Ampatuan – asked the court handling the case to defer the arraignment of his clients pending the resolution of the separate motions filed before the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court.

Sajid Islam is the son of Andal Sr., while Akmad is the nephew and son-in-law of the clan patriarch.

Earlier, Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes junked their respective motions to dismiss the case against them and set their arraignment on June 26 at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.