MANILA, Philippines - The prosecution panel in the Maguindanao massacre trial yesterday suffered a heavy blow after the judge handling the multiple murder case ordered the release of former provincial officer-in-charge Sajid Islam Ampatuan.
Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 denied the prosecutors’ motion for reconsideration and stood by her earlier decision granting Ampatuan’s petition for bail.
Sajid Islam is the son of clan patriarch and former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. He is the brother of primary suspect Andal Jr.
The suspect, through lawyer Gregorio Marquez, earlier posted a surety bond of P11.6 million in exchange for his temporary freedom.
Solis-Reyes issued a hold-departure order (HDO) against Ampatuan to prevent him from leaving the country.
In an interview with The STAR, Marquez said his client was expected to be released from detention yesterday.
Ampatuan was detained with the other suspects, including members of his family at the Quezon City Jail Annex at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig.
He was the first defendant in the Maguindanao bloodbath to be freed on bail.
Lawyer Harry Roque – who represents the families of some of the victims – expressed alarm over the court ruling.
“We’re alarmed that an Ampatuan was released a year and two months before the elections,” Roque said in a text message to The STAR.
“We will continue to work for his conviction,” he added.
DOJ to question bail grant
The Department of Justice (DOJ) will question the court’s decision.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima yesterday ordered DOJ prosecutors to exert all available legal remedies including a petition before the Court of Appeals.
Flight risk
The Bureau of Immigration yesterday included Ampatuan on its watchlist.
“We have received the HDO issued against him by the Quezon City court,” BI spokesman Elaine Tan-Pascua said.
Pascua said an HDO advisory would be circulated in all airports to prevent Ampatuan from leaving the country.
In issuing the HDO, the judge noted the possibility that the accused may jump bail.
Multiple murder is a non-bailable offense but a petition for bail may be granted if the evidence against a suspect is not strong, the court said.
Some 60 suspects, including members of the Ampatuan clan, have asked the court to allow them to post bail.
Forty-two other suspects – most of whom are police officers and civilian militias – were allowed to post bail.
Fourteen other suspects including Anwar Ampatuan Sr. and Akmad “Tato” Ampatuan were denied bail.
The bail requests of Andal Sr., Andal Jr. and Zaldy Ampatuan are still pending.