Zaldy to present own child as first defense witness

MANILA, Philippines - Former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao governor Zaldy Ampatuan will present one of his children, a minor, as the first defense witness in the three-year Maguindanao massacre trial.

In a seven-page omnibus motion, Ampatuan – through his lawyers James Keith Heffron, Kristine Esguerra, and Andre de Jesus – informed the court handling the multiple murder case that their first witness, should the hearing tomorrow push through, will be one of his children.

The STAR is withholding the name and gender of the prospective witness as per the advice of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221.

In the manifestation, defense lawyers asked the court to ensure that court personnel and the parties involved in the case will comply with the provisions of the Rule on Examination of Child Witness.

The lawyers particularly cited Section 11 (the right of the minor witness to be accompanied by support persons), Section 12 (the identification of a waiting area for child witnesses), and Section 13 (the creation of a comfortable courtroom environment for the child) in their omnibus motion.

They asked Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes to ensure the compliance of the rule. The motion is set to be heard this morning at the Quezon City Hall of Justice.

If allowed to be presented, Ampatuan’s child will be the first defense witness to be called to the witness stand in the Maguindanao massacre case. The child will be presented in the hearings on the bail petition filed by Ampatuan.