MANILA, Philippines – Even with significant progress in the almost six-year trial, the Quezon City court handling the Maguindanao massacre trial still failed to issue a verdict this year on the multiple murder case filed in connection with the Nov. 23, 2009 bloodbath.
And just months after the court denied his bail plea, former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. died in July due to terminal liver cancer at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) in Quezon City.
The STAR broke the story of the clan patriarch’s illness in June based on documents it obtained, showing that he was diagnosed with liver cancer and was already at the terminal stage of the disease.
He was later allowed to be confined at NKTI, with the court granting other accused Ampatuans – including his sons Andal Jr. and Zaldy – to visit their dying father.
The 74-year-old Andal Sr. fell into a coma before he died on July 17 due to complications brought about by his illness.
He was buried the following day in his hometown in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao.
Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, whose wife and sisters were among those killed in the massacre, offered condolences over the death of the clan patriarch.
“Regardless of his death, however, the Mangudadatu family and other families of the victims of the Ampatuan Maguindanao massacre case will continue to seek justice for the 58 persons who were gruesomely killed during the said incident,” he added.
His wife led a convoy of 58 people, including 32 media practitioners, on Nov. 23, 2009 to supposedly file his certificate of candidacy for the Maguindanao gubernatorial post.
The convoy was stopped and brutally murdered by more than a hundred men, allegedly upon orders of the powerful Ampatuan clan, a claim that they vehemently denied.
Suspects falling ill
Andal Sr., however, was not the only suspect who died while in detention this year.
Maot Dumla, an alleged member of the clan’s private army, died at the Taguig-Pateros Hospital on April 12 due to heart congestion.
Documents obtained by The STAR also showed that at least nine other suspects have fallen ill and brought to hospitals recently.
Among them was Andal Jr., who is suffering from a possible liver illness; and Zaldy, who has a heart ailment.
Other suspects brought to hospitals include Ampatuan grandson Anwar “Datu Ipi” Ampatuan Jr., who is suffering from “neuropathic bladder secondary to spinal cord injury” caused by an explosion that led to his arrest in 2012, and Police Officers 1 Pia Kamidon and Sandy Sabang.
Also brought to hospitals were Datukan Malang Salibo, Inspector Michael Macaraeg and Police Officer 3 Alex Daquilos.
Suspect Moctar Daud was brought to the isolation facility of the Quezon City Jail as he is suffering from tuberculosis.
Ampatuan son released on bail
Meanwhile, the court in March ordered the release of Sajid Islam Ampatuan, a son of the clan patriarch, after posting the P11.6-million bail set by the court.
Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes said the prosecution panel failed to establish strong evidence that would warrant the continued detention of the suspect while the trial is ongoing.
Sajid Islam is running for mayor of Shariff Aguak next year.
Based on records, the court has already ruled on the bail petitions of 62 out of 69 suspects who filed such pleas.
A total of 45 suspects, mostly police officers, have been allowed to post bail, while 17 suspects – including already deceased Andal Sr. and his sons Anwar Sr. and Zaldy – have been denied their motion for temporary freedom.
In her rulings granting the bail pleas, Solis-Reyes said that the prosecution panel was not able to present convincing and strong evidence against the accused. Most of these orders are being questioned before the Court of Appeals by the prosecutors.
Zaldy’s camp likewise expressed the intention to appeal the bail denial of the former regional governor.
Nearing judgment
With over 150 witnesses presented, court records also showed that the prosecution panel has now formally ended the presentation of primary evidence against 95 out of 113 arrested suspects.
Among those covered by the separate formal offers of evidence were Andal Sr., his son Anwar Sr. and son-in-law Akmad.
Court proceedings, however, may face delays after defense lawyer Salvador Panelo – counsel of Andal Jr. – withdrew from the case upon the request of his client.
Andal Jr. was given until the first week of January to find a new lawyer who will finish the presentation of evidence in his bail petition.
A total of 86 suspects, including 15 surnamed Ampatuan, remain at large for the multiple murder case.
Of the 114 arrested, charges against three have already been dismissed as they were allowed to become witnesses for the prosecution. Three others have died in detention.
Second wave
Also this year, relatives of the victims led by Mangudadatu filed a second wave of complaints against some 50 additional suspects in the massacre, including Cotabato City administrator and former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao solicitor general Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi.
According to the complainants, the testimonies of several witnesses during the course of the trial at the Quezon City court revealed the alleged participation of several individuals who were not originally charged for the massacre.
Guiani-Sayadi – sister of Cotabato City Mayor Japal Guiani Jr. – said she is ready to answer accusations against her. She hired the services of the Fortun Narvasa & Salazar (FNS) law firm to represent her.
The FNS law firm previously represented primary accused Andal Sr. and his sons Andal Jr. and Zaldy in the multiple murder case.
The complaint is currently under preliminary investigation before the Department of Justice.