Maguindanao massacre: Lawyer seeks resolution of bail pleas

MANILA, Philippines - The lawyer of some of the police officers charged for the Maguindanao massacre has asked the court handling the multiple murder case to resolve the prosecution panel’s formal offer of evidence against the bail petition of his clients.

In a four-page manifestation and motion filed last week, lawyer Adilberto Golla – representing 10 members of the 1508 Provincial Mobile Group of the Police Regional Office in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao – said it has been seven months since the prosecution filed its formal offer of evidence against the bail petition of the suspects.

“This representation believes that the formal offer of evidence of the prosecution is already ripe for resolution because as far as the bail hearing of the accused (are concerned), the prosecution panel already rested their case,” said Golla.

“The court should act on this for the accused to know their fate with respect to their application for bail,” he added.

The lawyer is representing suspects PO1 Herich Amaba, PO3 Rasid Anton, PO3 Felix Enate, PO1 Esprielito Lejarso, PO1 Narnouk Mascud, SPO1 Eduardo Ong, PO2 Saudi Pasutan, PO1 Arnulfo Soriano, and PO1 Pia Kamidon.

His 10th client, PO2 Hernanie Decipulo, committed suicide by jumping off the roof of his detention facility in Camp Bagong Diwa in February 2012.

His name, however, remains on the list of the accused because Golla has yet to file an appropriate motion for the dismissal of the case due to his death.

Earlier, Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes said she could not resolve the prosecution’s formal offer of exhibits due to the motions for discharge filed by suspects Esmael Canapia and Rex Ariel Diongon.

Canapia has since been allowed to become a state witness, but motion of Diongon is still unresolved.

In his motion, Golla said that the pendency of Diongon’s case should not bar the resolution of the formal offer of evidence against the bail petition of his clients.

He also cited the recent guidelines issued by the Supreme Court, saying it allowed the court to issue a separate resolution with respect to the formal offer of evidence against the bail petition of his clients.