PNP crime lab chief summoned for Maguindanao massacre trial

MANILA, Philippines - The defense panel in the Maguindanao massacre trial has asked the court handling the multiple murder case to summon the director of the Philippine National Police (PNP) crime laboratory service.

Marlo Guillano, officer-in-charge at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221, issued on Oct. 16 the subpoena for PNP crime laboratory service director Chief Superintendent Liza Fabong to appear on Friday morning before the court as requested by defense lawyer Philip Sigfrid Fortun.

Fortun, who represents some members of the Ampatuan clan, said the judicial affidavit of Fabong will be taken during her scheduled appearance. She will also be interviewed by defense lawyers.

Fabong was asked to bring with her all reports on the result of the ballistics examinations conducted on the firearms seized from private armed groups or those believed to have been used in the Nov. 23, 2009 incident.

Fortun also asked the PNP crime lab chief to bring all reports on the result of the dactyloscopy, or finger and hand print identification, done on all object evidence recovered from the crime site.

The request for a subpoena, a first on the part of the defense in the course of the three-year court proceedings, came as the prosecution panel wraps up its presentation as regards the bail petition of some of the accused.

The prosecution panel is expected to submit today its formal offer of evidence in opposition to the bail petition of some 60 suspects on the 58th murder case. It has already submitted its formal offer in connection with the initial 57 counts.

Schedule of proceedings

The court will rule on the offered evidence before the defense can start presenting its evidence on the bail petitions.

The presentation of evidence of the defense on the bail petition may overlap with the prosecution panel’s presentation of its evidence-in-chief for the suspects who have no pending request to be allowed to post bail.

A court employee said Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes may have schedule hearings for both panels to accommodate the presentation of their respective witnesses.

Meanwhile, the court has yet to receive information on the reported arrest of Alimudin Sanguyod, also known as Norodin Garaputan, in Datu Saudi town in Maguindanao on Friday.

Once the court receives the return of the warrant of arrest of Sanguyod, he will officially be the 108th suspect arrested for the massacre.

A total of 197 people were initially charged for the incident, which claimed the lives of 58 people, including 32 media practitioners.