Fiscals push for arraignment of 2 Ampatuans

MANILA, Philippines - The prosecution panel in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre trial asked the Quezon City court handling the multiple murder case to proceed with the scheduled arraignment of two grandsons of clan patriarch and former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr.

In a seven-page opposition, the panel led by City Prosecutor Archimedes Manabat asked Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes to junk the motion for reconsideration filed by suspects Anwar “Ipi” Ampatuan Jr. and Anwar Sajid “Ulo” Ampatuan.

The two are grandsons of the clan patriarch through his son Anwar Sr., who is also an accused in the case.

The two said they were in Las Vegas prior to the 2009 massacre and were attending a session of the Sangguniang Bayan in Shariff Aguak at the time of the incident.

The fiscals, however, said witnesses identified them as among those who participated in the planning and execution of the crime.