Zaldy’s lawyers ordered to use judicial affidavits

MANILA, Philippines - The Quezon City court handling the Maguindanao massacre trial has ordered lawyers of former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao governor Zaldy Ampatuan to utilize the Supreme Court’s judicial affidavit rule.

Finding merit to the motion of the prosecution panel, Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes ordered the Heffron, Esguerra-Dy & De Jesus (HEDJ) law firm to submit judicial affidavits with attached exhibits 10 days before the scheduled hearing.

The judicial affidavit rule is an SC initiative intended to expedite court proceedings through the use of written testimonies – called judicial affidavits – in place of the direct testimonies of witnesses.

The order was issued late Wednesday, or less than 10 days before the scheduled hearing on Sept. 3. However, no suspension of hearing was issued by the court.

Earlier, private prosecutor Nena Santos also asked the HEDJ law firm to furnish them a list of witnesses to be presented and the documents that the witnesses are supposed to identify so that they can “amply prepare” to cross-examine the witnesses.

She said the defense lawyers made the same request of them.

The manifestation, which was sent to the court, was also addressed to the HEDJ law office, which took over Zaldy’s case in June.

Former defense lawyer Sigfrid Fortun previously confirmed that they intend to use judicial affidavits once they start presenting witnesses.